24th May 2014: FIRST MEETING ft Lee Konitz, Dan Tepfer, Michael Janisch, Jeff Williams update: 4 Stars from Downbeat + great reviews from London Jazz, 4 Stars from Marlbank, Bebop Spoken Here

First Meeting is a co-led album by the one and only Lee Konitz, NYC-based pianist Dan Tepfer, WWR’s own Michael Janisch and legendary drummer Jeff Williams.  One of the most highly anticipated releases we’ve had on our roster, the album was captured 4 years ago live at the Pizza Express Jazz Club and the music was chosen from over 6 hours of what was recorded.  Lee Konitz fans from around the world have been emailing us about this release ever since as word got out it was going to be a record and we’re happy that we can finally  release it this June 10 next month.  We’ve started getting some great mentions in the press and we share some of them below.

First up was Marlbank who gave the album a 4 star review and we reprint an excerpt below.

“Listen to this valuable album and you’ll want more of: the weariness (‘Billie’s Bounce’); the soliloquising in the jazz soloist’s sense (Konitz’s soprano solo at the beginning of ‘All The Things You Are’); the modernism (Tepfer’s beginning to ‘Stella By Starlight’); the Monkian dimension, again Tepfer setting things up on the intro to the off kilter swing of the trio take on ‘Giant Steps’; the spontaneity (there was no rehearsal or plan); and the tenderness and quietude with Konitz’s entry on ‘Body and Soul’ just beautiful.”
4 Stars, Marlbank

And then we had a thoroughly descriptive and engaging review from Andy Boeckstaens over at London Jazz who was actually at the second night himself.  We’d like to thank Andy for reminding us of how special those nights were when the album was recorded. Here’s an excerpt:

“This is a collaborative success, but the presence of Konitz will be the main attraction for many listeners, and he makes all the difference to this wonderful album. His mode of expression is remarkably resistant to the passing of the years, and more importantly, no-one in the world sounds remotely like him.” London Jazz News

And then we were just alerted to a glowing 4 star Downbeat Magazine review that’s not quite out yet so we’ve only shown a snapshot of it to the right and an excerpt below.

“This is a live recording that captures the essence of improvisational musical dialogue. Half the fun is guessing the response to various musical gambits and where the conversation will lead next.”
4 Stars, Downbeat Magazine

Finally, Bebop Spoken Here weighed in with this great review here.

“Konitz, Tepfer and Williams are outstanding and Janisch, on whose Whirlwind label the album is being released, is his usual inventive tower of strength.”
Bebop Spoken Here

Check out the First Meeting album page to hear preview tracks from the album and remember to stop back in early June for your copy!  Thank you.