What makes Duplicity by Lee Konitz notable?

Upon its release, 'Duplicity' received critical acclaim for its sophisticated interplay between Konitz and Solal, contributing to the modern jazz dialogue. The album has since been recognized as a notable contribution to jazz literature, influencing many musicians seeking to blend intricate improvisation with lyrical storytelling. By 1978, Lee Konitz was an established figure in the jazz world, known for his unique contributions to bebop and cool jazz. 'Duplicity' marked a significant collaboration with French pianist Martial Solal, showcasing Konitz's evolution as an artist embracing multifaceted musical conversations. This album followed his earlier works, highlighting his continued exploration of innovative structures within jazz.

Who is Duplicity for?

Duplicity works well if you're into gradual build to emotional climax, immersive melodic improvisation experience and thoughtful exploration of intricate harmonies.

How many songs are on Duplicity?

Duplicity has 7 tracks, running approximately 72 minutes.

Duplicity

Lee Konitz · 1978

72 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A rich tapestry of improvisation weaving together intricate melodies and harmonies in a stunning jazz dialogue.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Duplicity — The opening track establishes the album's thematic complexity through its seamless interplay of melody and improvisation, setting the stage for the collaborative nature of the project.
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Words Have Changed — This lengthy piece showcases a compelling exchange between saxophone and piano, illustrating the depth of emotional expression possible within extended improvisational sections.
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Rhythm Sweet — In this track, rhythmic variations highlight the duo’s ability to create intricate textures while maintaining a cohesive narrative flow throughout the performance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate improvisation and strong collaborative dynamics, marking a notable entry in jazz literature.

What we noticed

The first track features a complex interplay between Konitz's saxophone and Solal's piano, with each musician responding to the other's phrases.
Several tracks, such as 'Blues Sketch', employ a call-and-response structure that highlights the improvisational dialogue between the instruments.
The album maintains a consistent mid-tempo feel, with only slight variations in pace across its seven tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

gradual build to emotional climax
immersive melodic improvisation experience
thoughtful exploration of intricate harmonies
for deep listening sessions

Maybe skip if you

prefer short, standalone tracks
seek immediate energy bursts

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Recognized for its sophisticated interplay, marking an artistic high point in Konitz's career.
Themes: French jazz collaboration· improvisational dialogue· melodic complexity
Career context: By 1978, Lee Konitz was an established figure in the jazz world, known for his unique contributions to bebop and cool jazz. 'Duplicity' marked a significant collaboration with French pianist Martial Solal, showcasing Konitz's evolution as an artist embracing multifaceted musical conversations. This album followed his earlier works, highlighting his continued exploration of innovative structures within jazz.
Stylistic neighbors: Paul Desmond· Stan Getz· Ornette Coleman