To my American readers in the U.S. and abroad, Happy Thanksgiving. To the rest of the world, Happy Thanksgiving. Today is one of our favorite holidays. It's nondenominational and celebrates cooperation with others for the sake of mutual survival. And like all great holidays, a robust meal is the focus and consumed with family and friends as we say thanks for all that is good and kind.
In this spirit, I thought I'd serve up a video of Bill Evans and Lee Konitz that was taped for Danish TV in Copenhagen in late 1965. Dave Thompson sent this one along. [Photo above of Bill Evans in Copenhagen in late 1965 courtesy of the Jan Persson estate]
Touring separately in Europe in October 1965, pianist Bill Evans and saxophonist Lee Konitz found themselves together in West Berlin at the end of the month. They performed at West Berlin's Philharmonie in West Berlin on the 29th and then headed north to Denmark with Evans's bassist and drummer on this European tour—Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen and Alan Dawson. [Photo above of Lee Konitz in Copenhagen in late 1965, courtesy of the Jan Persson estate]
On the 31st, they taped two songs for Danish television in Copenhagen, most likely in the afternoon as a tune-up for their stage performance that night at the Tivoli Theatre. The songs were How Deep Is the Ocean and Beautiful Love.
Here's their TV taping. Safe travels if you're on the road this weekend...