Lee Konitz & Warne Marsh: Topsy

Track

Topsy

Artist

Lee Konitz (alto sax) and Warne Marsh (tenor sax)

CD

Lee Konitz With Warne Marsh (Koch 8502)

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Musicians:

Lee Konitz (alto sax), Warne Marsh (tenor sax), Billy Bauer (guitar), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Recorded: New York, June 14, 1955

Rating: 92/100 (learn more)

Lee Konitz, Miles Davis, Art Blakey and
Bud Powell at Birdland, photo by Marcel Fleiss

Beginning in the late 1940s, cool alto saxophonist Lee Konitz earned a reputation as one of the most original improvisers in jazz. While many altoists were imitating Charlie Parker, Konitz was developing a phraseology all his own. On the Count Basie classic �Topsy,� he and two former colleagues from pianist Lennie Tristano�s groups are joined by bebop pioneers Kenny Clarke on drums and Oscar Pettiford on bass. Since Konitz and tenorist Warne Marsh shared similar tonal concepts and improvisatory approaches, they made a highly compatible and successful team.