The
Lee Konitz at Storyville album on the Jazztone label features material that has been repackaged and reissued in several different configurations on Black Lion. But the Jazztone album was already a reissue when it came out, a selection of material that had first seen the light of the day on the Storyville club's own self-named label. Several different groups are featured in these live recordings, and while even some fans of this style of jazz find
Konitz's sidemen interchangeable, there was at least one combo here that was one of the hornman's personal favorites. That group holds forth for the entire first side of
At Storyville, beginning with a tragic "Mean to Me" but eventually smiling widely as the beat of "Bop Goes the Leesel" takes hold. "Skylark" also soars, bassist
Peter Ind going through the song's difficult bridge as if casually tossing a few coins into a toll basket. Pianist
Ronnie Ball is the holdover for both the lineups, and works in a much similar way with
Konitz that mentor
Lennie Tristano did. They expertly weave around each other, swimming through harmonic structures together like dolphins.
Percy Heath, who takes over the bass in the second group, is absolutely no slouch, holding down a somewhat groovier beat that gives the classic tune "Hi Beck" a great lift. There are also nice versions of both "Sound Lee" and "Subconscious Lee." Portions of this album, but not this exact selection of tunes, are also on albums such as
Jazz at Storyville and
Konitz. No information is given about composers on the original Jazztone sleeve.