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A journey to the essence of jazz with a living legend

Lee Konitz (as) - François Théberge (ts) - Stéphane Belmondo (tp, bugle)

Jerry Edwards (tb) - Paul Imm (cb) - Alan Jones (dr)

At 75, Lee Konitz wrote one of the most beautiful page of post-bop alongside Lennie Tristano, Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, etc. Obsessively independent, this alto sax designated best sax player in the world by Downbeat in 2002 figured out how to stay an explorer who can stand side by side with the European avant-garde. And that is what he's doing by performing with François Theberge from Quebec, who continues the luminous exploration of this great master’s repertoire that he began in 2002 with the “Music of Konitz” album.

A miracle of organized spontaneity where the writing maintains a constant dialogue with the improvisation, Theberge’s format is reminiscent of the legendary sessions in “Birth of the Cool” by Miles Davis, Lee Konitz playing an active role. Demonstrating himself to be an uncompromising modern jazzman, but with attention to balance and dialogue, the former director of the jazz department at CNSM in Paris composed all the arrangements and brilliantly brought together five free thinkers who demonstrate themselves to be up to the standard of Lee's conversational style.

More than a half century after the legendary sessions of Miles, Konitz is still going and for all those who claim that it is from within the tradition that jazz will best renew itself, Theberge has proven them right. For a jubilant and reviving journey with one of the most inspirational sources in modern jazz.

New album to be released on March 6th, 2008