Lee Konitz

[Joseph K]

He has passed away.

https://pitchfork.com/news/lee-konitz-jazz-saxophonist-and-miles-davis-collaborator-dead-at-92/

[Tenor Freak]

Just seen it in the Graun, another victim of this virus. RIP to one of the greats.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"You don't know what love is" - Lee Konitz (with Elvin Jones), from "Motion", my favourite Lee Konitz album...RIP.

http://youtu.be/SFM-lLhYbKE

[Jazzrook]

Lee Konitz unaccompanied solo on 'Blues for Bird':

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=TNYTqFLCvvM

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

I spoke to him after a duo gig with John Taylor at St Georges in Bristol, probably 30 years ago. After referring to a particular recording he said "You guys really seem to know your stuff over here" - which tbh would be an overstatement in my case.

Not to the best of my knowledge having ever had any grand children I can't say "One day I can tell my grand children I met Lee Konitz".

[Ian Thumwood]

I have to say that I think Konitz was one of the "Great" improvisors in jazz. There is a brilliant book by Graham Lock where Konitz explains his understanding of how improvisation works and the need to keep things spontaneous. I felt that his ideas spilled out beyond jazz yet I think that Konitz was immediately in the jazz tradition. Most of his work centred around working on the changes from popular standards and he always swung.

I saw him twice, on both occasions with Kenny Wheeler's groups. However, there is a Paul Motian trio record called "on Broadway Volume 3" where he plays a duo on "Crazy he calls me" which I have always felt to be the one track I would choose is someone asked me to explain what it meant to "swing." You always sense that Lee Konitz was ahead of his time, not so much in his style but how rigorous he was in tackling improvisation. It almost seemed like a puzzle -solving exercise for him. There was a concert with Konitz, Steve Swallow and Paul Bley several years ago on BBC 3 and I think that Lee Konitz really fitted well into the same concept as the pianist. Players like LK and PB were the absolute masters, in my opinion.

I had no idea that Lee Konitz started with Teddy Powell's big band although he was a featured soloist laude Thornhill's big band that played the Gil Evans' charts.

[Serial_Apologist]

You always sense that Lee Konitz was ahead of his time, not so much in his style but how rigorous he was in tackling improvisation. It almost seemed like a puzzle -solving exercise for him.

In that respect another player who in many ways held to a similar philosophy regarding improvisation - notwithstanding their very different routes into formulating equally valid approaches to totally free improvisation - was Steve Lacy.

[Ian Thumwood]

I like Steve Lacy too. As you say, a different approach. It is quite interesting reading the Graham Lock book and discovering who Konitz admired as an improvisor.

[muzzer]

Phenomenal player. And lived to a great age. Rest in peace.

[Alyn_Shipton]

I knew Lee well, and we caught up most times he was in the UK after about 2001. My little tribute to him is here: https://www.jazzwise.com/news/articl...-15-april-2020
But Boardees might also recall: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00g3s6s

[Joseph K]

[Old Grumpy]

I spoke to him after a duo gig with John Taylor at St Georges in Bristol, probably 30 years ago. After referring to a particular recording he said "You guys really seem to know your stuff over here" - which tbh would be an overstatement in my case.

Not to the best of my knowledge having ever had any grand children I can't say "One day I can tell my grand children I met Lee Konitz".

But you can tell us instead, S_A. Respect!

OG

[BBMmk2]

Very sad to hear.

[Tenor Freak]

Lee makes an appearance in this TV documentary courtesy of the Norwegians:

There is also a part 2.

[elmo]

Great musician very sad loss

Lee with Martial Solal playing "Star Eyes"

https://youtu.be/19a0xxgbukY

elmo