Lennie Tristano

New York Improvisations

 

"Jazz is not a style. To me, jazz is a feeling" - Lennie Tristano

New York Improvisations is not the product of a club date or a studio session. Rather, the album is a series of home recordings made by Lennie in his home studio over the two year period of 1955 and 56. The songs on the record had not been previously released, and so with the technical assistance of Lenny Popkin (preparation of the master) and Don Pulse (technical assistant, Columbia Recording Studio), the original tapes of Lennie Tristano playing with bassist Peter Ind and drummer Tom Weyburn were for the first time made available to the general public. The record itself is an Elektra Musician Jazz Masters Edition, released in 1983 (about 28 years after the tapes themselves were made). The listener needs to be reminded that these recordings were made by Lennie for personal consumption, and probably as teaching aids, as much of is career was focused on teaching. Therefore they don't have the polish one would expect from the studio, with abrupt endings and fades. Nevertheless, they are a valuable record of one of jazz music's most enigmatic artists.      

 

The Stan Getz Quartet 

Pure Getz

"Pure Getz" is (by my admittedly dubious counting skills) the 90th recording by Stan as either a leader or co-leader. This is by any standard an incredible legacy, and there were more to come. Stan made this recording around the time he turned 55. Although older, none of his skills had diminished; in fact the 1980's would be a decade during which some of his best recordings would be made. 

"Pure Getz" was recorded in January and February of 1982. The rythym section was composed of Jim McNeely (piano), Marc Johnson (bass), and either Victor Lewis or Billy Hart on drums. McNeely, Johnson and Lewis would go on to record several more times with Stan, both live and in the studio. These were all younger men than Stan, and so would have grown up being exposed to his earlier recordings. There is certainly no lack of empathy with the musicians; everyone seems very in tune with the arrangements and the song structures. This is a first rate band that plays with both verve and delicacy, using the appropriate style depending on the number. Marc Johnson, who had been part of the Bill Evan's trio prior to this album, has a tremendous tone and solos with complete aplomb. Stan's tone is magnificent throughout as he moves between ballads, regular tempos and real burners. No hesitation whatsoever in recommending this excellent album.