We all do 'do, re, mi', but you have to find the other notes yourself. Louis Armstrong

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21 Nov

Lee Konitz

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Alto Saxophonist Lee Konitz, pioneer of “cool jazz” has enjoyed one of the most creative and prolific careers in modern jazz. After early experience with the Claude Thornhill Orchestra (arranged by Gil Evans), Stan Kenton’s Orchestra, the innovative small groups of pianist Lennie Tristano, and the Miles Davis Capitol Orchestra, Konitz turned freelance and has remained on the cutting edge of post-bop improvisation ever since.

He has occasionally led a nonet (now resurrected!) and various quartets, but his exceptionally large and varied discography also includes an early unaccompanied saxophone solo album, several innovative albums of duets that spanned jazz styles, and collaborations which reads like the “who’s who” of the Jazz world. Lee Konitz is the only still active musician to have played all three ever excisting Birdland clubs in New York City.

Like Gil Evans or Coleman Hawkins Lee is always open and interested to play with young musicans and participates in exciting new musical projects co-lead by them (like the Lee Konitz NewNonet or the Lee Konitz-Ohad Talmor String Project). Lee Konitz was named „Alto Saxophonist“ of the year by Downbeat Magazine (critics poll) numerous times and in 2008 Lee Konitz was named an NEA Jazz Master.

Interview of Lee Konitz at The Wall Street Journal on September 2013


Last modified on Thursday, 25 September 2014 12:11
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