Lee Konitz & Lars Sjösten Quartet - Friends (1992)

Saxophonist Lee Konitz teamed with Swedish pianist Lars Sjosten and his quartet in 1991 on an extensive tour that included this solid session recorded in Fasching, Stockholm. The quintet's selections included Konitz originals "Zodiac" and "Friends" and familiar standards "Star Eyes" and "Body and Soul." Konitz's easy, fluid phrases, expressive tone, and harmonic facility and imagination on alto and soprano sax were consistently impressive throughout the 70-minute-plus program. While not as visceral or ambitious as his work with Lennie Tristano or his 1970s and early '80s European albums, this date offered good, occasionally brilliant Lee Konitz. -- Ron Wynn