The latest CD releases reviewed

WALTER LANG-LEE KONITZ
Ashiya Pirouet ***

There's such an insinuatingly melodic grace to both Lang's original compositions and the pianist's colloquies with Konitz's alto that the results are full of charm. Konitz, in particular, virtually sings his way through the sessions that produced them last summer, enveloping Lang's standard-like pieces in that uniquely vocalised sound, authoritative yet vulnerable, warm yet slightly detached. The duo enjoy a seamless musical intimacy so laid back that it appears effortless, with Lang at times giving the proceedings the air of a tasteful chamber recital. At 80, Konitz shows no sign of slipping into Shakespeare's sere and yellow leaf of creative old age, and his lyrical ruminations on such pieces as Soft Wind Blowing, Way Too Early, The Good Way and Farewell are as strikingly beautiful as anything he has recorded. www.pirouetrecords.com

GERALD WILSON
Monterey Moods Mack Avenue ****

Wilson's latest may not match its exciting predecessors (New York, New Sound and In My Time), but it has the signature rich, full-bodied voicings, and the same power, precision and capacity to generate excitement. The title refers to a seven-part suite commissioned to mark the Monterey festival's 50th anniversary. It's based on a three- note idea that Wilson deftly puts through the orchestral and rhythmic hoops, even if, ultimately, it seems more a limitation than an inspiration; the non-suite pieces, a standard and his own The Mini Waltz are much richer orchestrally. Wilson is not a long-form writer, but he's adept at making relatively little arranging go a long way.

As usual, there's plenty of space for highly accomplished, if not strikingly original, solos from such as Hubert Laws, Antonio Hart, Ronnie Cuber, Terell Stafford, Jon Faddis and Renee Rosnes. www.musicconnection.co.uk