Album Reviews

Classic stuff indeed. Here is the great cool-school altoman in his early pomp, delivering solos of peerless elegance and invention across a double album without a dull moment. Konitz's light, limpid tone and sinuous improvisations on these 25 tracks make them jazz to treasure. He is ideally partnered by the finest players on the West Coast scene of the time, among them pianist Jimmy Rowles, guitarist Billy Bauer and drummer Shelly Manne. As a bonus, there is a clutch of tracks on which Konitz switches to tenor to good effect. AV

Grace Kelly/Lee Konitz: GracefulLee (Pazz ) 12.99

Fast forward a mere 50 years or so, and the now octogenarian Konitz remains on fine form, partnering an extraordinary young alto player who plainly has a shining future. Kelly is only 17, but does not sound out of place alongside the great man and a crack rhythm team including guitarist Russell Malone. Her solos are tremendously assured and inventive, and her duets with Konitz – including a couple of free tear-ups – show a remarkable musician at work. The old boy is not quite as fleet as formerly, but remains on wonderful form. AV

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 (Naxos 8.572392) 5.99

Vasily Petrenko's Liverpool orchestra does not pack the awesome weight of the old Leningrad Philharmonic recording, but in clean-cut modern digital sound this new recording of Shostakovich's coruscating Eighth is vivid and vibrant. They hurtle into the second movement with venom, the violas and cellos digging deep into their strings in the third, and the brass suitably red-blooded in the finale. Then we come to the close where the desolation of war brings an uneasy peace. Here it is truly chilling as the music evaporates. DD

Dutilleaux: Piano music (ECM 476 3653) 12.99

Henri Dutilleaux was a perfectionist whose continual revision of existing works left the world with all too little. Starting out with Debussy as his influence, his Piano Sonata alone would place him among the great 20th century composers. The disc ranges from the sound of the Blackbird to the Three Preludes that recreate in music visual pictures clothed in modern sonorities. There are 24 tracks that take us through many differing moods. Robert Levin's deep insight and immaculate technique make this a rare treasure. DD