Solar from Live at Birdland by Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian

Bassist Charlie Haden was there at the very beginning of this thing we call “free” jazz. He played on Ornette Coleman’s seminal The Shape of Jazz to Come in 1959. Live at Birdland (released this June) shows the other side of what “free” can mean. Saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Brad Mehldau, drummer Paul Motian, and Haden present beautiful deconstructions of some classic jazz standards (including “Lover Man” made famous by Billie Holiday, “I Fall in Love Too Easily” sung by Frank Sinatra, and “Oleo” by Sonny Rollins). This performance shows four great improvisers exploring the limits of these compositions and more.

We’ll focus on “Solar,” a Miles Davis tune first recorded in 1954. Their interpretation of “Solar” begins with a short rubato section from Konitz, which develops into the groove of the song as the rhythm section joins in. Konitz continues, playing with a relaxed tone and feel, while Mehldau picks up and finishes many of his phrases. Mehldau’s own solo comes next, offering displacements of the tune’s main riff with his own additional harmonic and melodic material to create an engaging solo that gradually grows in intensity. Haden follows with a solo that is both lyrical and rhythmically exciting. Motian’s excellent drumming brings the band back into the head. Konitz’s final statement of the melody features countermelodies from Mehldau and dissolving accompaniment from Haden and Motian, to break down Davis’s tune to its simplest form.

Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian – Solar (from Live at Birdland)