Name: Live At The Berlin Jazz Days 1980
Brand: Lee Konitz and Martial Solal

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

0215571MSW

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-03-11

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4029759155713

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

0215480MSW

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4029759154808

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "4029759154808"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Lee Konitz and Martial Solal

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

MPS is a German jazz label that was founded in 1968 by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. It started as a successor to SABA and quickly gained recognition for its exceptional sound quality. Often compared to the renowned Blue Note label, MPS became known as Most Perfect Sound.

From 1971 onwards, MPS releases were distributed by BASF and later by Metronome Records GmbH (renamed Metronome Musik GmbH in 1977). However, in 1983, due to declining budgets for recording jazz music, Brunner-Schwer shifted his focus to classical music and sold the rights of MPS to Philips. Eventually, the label found its way under Polydor's ownership and its recordings were re-released by Motor Music starting from 1993.

In Hamburg, Universal Jazz Germany took over the MPS archives in 1999 while Speakers Corner Records released various vinyl reissues. After ten years since Brunner-Schwer's passing, Edel acquired MPS's back catalogue from Universal on January 7th, 2014. Now led by Andreas Brunner-Schwer and Friedhelm Schulz, the team has returned to Villingen where they continue recording new material.

Reissue of a duo album of the highest calibre, which was originally released by MPS in 1982.

US Alto saxophonist Lee Konitz's career encompassed the beginnings of bebop, cool jazz, and mainstream, as well as the Avant-garde. Konitz has recorded with virtually every major modern jazz figure of the last 60 years, from Miles Davis and his seminal Birth of the Cool album, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Brad Mehldau, to Bill Frisell and Paul Motian. French- Algerian pianist Martial Solal has been a major musical voice since the 1950's. Born in 1927, the same year as Konitz, the 93- year- old Solal and his ferocious virtuoso technique was the perfect foil for Konitz's cerebral, introspective play. The two had a rich musical relationship from the late 1960's on, as they toured together throughout the US and Europe. 

This album, recorded at the Berlin Jazz Days 1980 was conceived in part as a "Lennie Tristano Memorial". Lee's studies and playing experience with the iconoclastic pianist left an indelible imprint on the saxophonist's concept and allowed him to develop a unique style that offered an alternate musical vision from that of his legendary contemporary, altoist Charlie Parker. 

Lee Konitz was 92 when he died in Manhattan on April 15, 2020 from complications caused by covid 19. Konitz always contended that he was "just a standards player", yet he also stated that "My playing was about making a personal statement - I wanted to play original music". Both were true - he transformed those standards into his personal vision, and in so doing has found his place in the jazz pantheon.

Live At The Berlin Jazz Days 1980

Music GB