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Lee Konitz
Konitz is sometimes regarded as the preeminent cool jazz saxophonist, because he performed and recorded with Claude Thornhill, Lennie Tristano (both often cited as important cool jazz proponents of the mid 1940s), and with Miles Davis on his epochal Birth of the Cool, which gave the form its name.Konitz has also been repeatedly noted as one of the few jazz saxophonists of the late 1940s and 1950s who did not seem imitative of the massively influential Charlie Parker.
In the early 1950s, Konitz recorded and toured with Stan Kenton's orchestra.
In 1961, he recorded Motion with Elvin Jones on drums and Sonny Dallas on bass. This spontaneous session, widely regarded as a classic in the cool genre, consisted entirely of standards. The loose trio format aptly featured Konitz's unorthodox phrasing and chromaticism.
In 1967, Konitz recorded The Lee Konitz Duets, a series of duets with various musicians. The duo configurations were often unusual for the period (saxophone and trombone, two saxophones). The recordings drew on very nearly the entire history of jazz, from a Louis Armstrong dixieland number with valve trombonist Marshall Brown to two completely free duos: one with a Duke Ellington associate, violinist Ray Nance, and one with guitarist Jim Hall.
Konitz has been quite prolific, recording dozens of albums as a band leader. He has also recorded or performed with Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Elvin Jones and others.
Album Reviews
- Prisma by Ian Patterson
- Frescalalto by Ian Patterson
Live Reviews
Catching Up With
Album Reviews
- Frescalalto by Luca Canini
- First Meeting by Alberto Bazzurro
Extended Analysis
Catching Up With
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- Enfants Terribles: Live at the Blue Note by Greg Simmons
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Reassessing
Film Reviews
Album Reviews
- Live at Birdland by Kevin Davis
Live Reviews
Extended Analysis
Album Reviews
- KnowingLee by John Kelman
Extended Analysis
Album Reviews
- Jugendstil II by Raul d'Gama Rose
Multiple Reviews
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At 92, Lee Konitz Has A New Album
October 13, 2019
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
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10 New Vinyl Releases Available Now For Ordering – Lee Konitz, Rez...
October 13, 2018
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
October 13, 2017
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
October 13, 2016
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
October 12, 2015
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
June 08, 2015
"Jeff Denson Trio + Lee Konitz" To Be Released July 7 By Denson's...
April 13, 2015
Lee Konitz With Dan Tepfer "Talking & Playing” Instructional Video...
October 13, 2014
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
October 13, 2013
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
October 13, 2012
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
August 20, 2012
Half Note Announces A New Release From Lee Konitz, Enfants Terribles,...
October 13, 2011
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lee Konitz
September 19, 2011
July 29, 2011
Lee Konitz, with Frank Wunsch - Insight (2011)
June 23, 2011
Enter the "Konitz/Mehldau/Haden/Motian - Live at Birdland" Giveaway at...
June 04, 2011
Lee Konitz at 83: Taking It Slow and Steady on "Live at Birdland"
May 05, 2011
Konitz/Mehldau/Haden/Motion "Live at Birdland"
November 10, 2010
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Last Updated: December 13, 2018
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