Lennie Tristano & Buddy DeFranco - Crosscurrents (1972)

Even though the music on this LP has yet to be made available on CD, it gets the highest rating because the performances are so unique. Pianist Lennie Tristano is heard with his finest group, a sextet with altoist Lee Konitz, tenor-saxophonist Warne Marsh, guitarist Billy Bauer, bassist Arnold Fishkin, and either Harold Granowsky or Denzil Best on drums. Their seven selections include some truly remarkable unisons on "Wow," memorable interplay by the horns on "Sax of a Kind," and the earliest examples of free improvisation in jazz: "Intuition" and "Digression." In addition, the set features clarinetist Buddy DeFranco with vibraphonist Teddy Charles in a sextet on three numbers and backed by a big band for two others; the radical "A Bird in Igor's Yard" was composed and arranged by George Russell. This essential LP (which is subtitled Capitol Jazz Classics Vol. 14) concludes with a feature for trombonist Bill Harris on Neal Hefti's "Opus 96." Consistently brilliant and advanced music.

A1, A2 recorded in New York City, March 4, 1949
A3 recorded in New York City, March 14, 1949
A4 to A7 recorded in New York City, May 16, 1949
B1, B2 recorded in New York City, April 23, 1949
B3 to B5 recorded in New York City, August 24, 1949
B6 recorded in New York City, November 2, 1949