Revisiting Lee Konitz’s "Motion" Timeless Classic

A Historic 1961 Session with Elvin Jones and Sonny Dallas

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Motion
by Lee Konitz
Label: Verve
Recorded: August 29, 1961
Released: 1961
★★★★½

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Motion

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Motion by Lee Konitz, recorded in 1961 with Elvin Jones on drums and Sonny Dallas on bass, is a landmark in improvisational Jazz. Known for its spontaneity and fluid interplay, the album features five standards, including I Remember You and Foolin' Myself. Konitz's cool, airy alto sax moves seamlessly through the chord changes, often phrasing across bar lines, while Jones shows remarkable restraint, playing with subtlety despite his typically powerful style with John Coltrane. The trio’s dynamic interaction creates a "musical conversation" that feels both exploratory and grounded, emphasizing improvisation over rigid structure. With minimal preparation, they achieve a sense of freedom and clarity, making Motion a quintessential example of pure, spontaneous Jazz at its finest.

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Personnel
Lee Konitz • alto saxophone
Sonny Dallas • bass
Elvin Jones • drums

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Tracklist:
1. I Remember You (Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer)
2. All of Me (Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons)
3. Foolin' Myself (Jack Lawrence, Peter Tinturin
4. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Cole Porter)
5. I'll Remember April (Gene DePaul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye)

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