Larry Koonse: What’s in the Box?

A true labor of love, this quietly charming disc by guitarist Koonse rescues several rarely heard tunes from the pen of his mentor, cool-jazz innovator Jimmy Wyble. With delicately balanced counterpoint and sweet-tempered improvisations, Koonse sets up casually swinging scenes for clarinetist Gary Foster and bassist Darek Oles. But the most sublime tracks are twin-guitar affairs, with Koonse and his father, Dave, in a beautiful, slow-motion ballet. It’s strong testament to the 86-year-old Wyble, who remains active and deserves to be better known.

Originally Published May 1, 2008