Lee Konitz Quartet - Ideal Scene (Soul Note, 1986)

This post is by Scott and Dan

Lee Konitz (as); Harold Danko (p); Rufus Reid (b); Al Harewood (d)

Recorded on July 22 and 23, 1986

Our earlier posts for Lee Konitz focus on his duet performances. Ideal Scene is a quartet session featuring Harold Danko, one of his duet partners. The title refers to Konitz's description of the recording sessions which followed a tour of eight concerts with the band. Most jazz musicians would agree that recording sessions that follow tours are easier and more satisfying. Soul Note's producers often took advantage of the opportunity to record American musicians on tour in Europe.

Konitz is in especially fine form for this album. The tunes include originals by Konitz and Danko and three jazz standards. The closing "Stella by Starlight" is perhaps the best performance, stretching out to 9:24 minutes. It combines Konitz's love of ballads with his slightly dry tone, making Stella a more attractive yet mysterious character. 

Danko's "Tidal Breeze" is also a favorite track. He played this tune with Chet Baker on the trumpet player's Once Upon a Summertime album (Artists House, 1977). Danko has recorded over 30 albums as a leader, many on SteepleChase with his quartet with Rich Perry. He's simply one of the best pianists still on the scene.

Konitz acknowledges the Soul Note team of Giovanni Bonandrini and Giancarlo Barigozzi in his liner notes. We should all thank Soul Note for the opportunities provided to artists like Lee Konitz and many others. Forty years later, their contributions to jazz still stand as a high point of the 1980s.