Alto saxophonists · 1927–2020
Lee Konitz
American jazz musician (1927–2020)
- Born
- 13 October 1927
Chicago - Died
- 15 April 2020
Greenwich Village - Country
- United States
- Active
- 1940–2020
- Record labels
- Atlantic Records, Enja Records, Impulse!, RCA Red Seal
- Discography
- 156 albums
Biography
Lee Konitz was a jazz musician who played alto saxophone and soprano saxophone. Lee Konitz was born on 13 October 1927 in Chicago and died on 15 April 2020 in Greenwich Village. The music is usually filed under jazz and bebop. Record labels: Atlantic Records, Enja Records, Impulse! and RCA Red Seal. The discography here lists 156 albums, from “The New Sounds” (1951) to “En la Fundación Valparaíso” (2024). Honours include NEA Jazz Masters and Paul Acket Award.
Leon "Lee" Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jazz movement of the 1940s and 1950s includes participation in Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool sessions and his work with pianist Lennie Tristano. He was one of relatively few alto saxophonists of this era to retain a distinctive style, when Charlie Parker exerted a massive influence. Like other students of Tristano, Konitz improvised long, melodic lines with the rhythmic interest coming from odd accents, or odd note groupings suggestive of the imposition of one time signature over another. Other saxophonists were strongly influenced by Konitz, such as Paul Desmond and Art Pepper. He died during the COVID-19 pandemic from complications brought on by the disease.
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Discography
Studio and live albums
Also plays on
Albums where Lee Konitz is credited as a sideman
Standards written by Lee Konitz
Analysed solos by Lee Konitz
- Crosscurrentalto saxophone · 256 BPM · F-maj · 1949-03-04
- Wowalto saxophone · 174 BPM · F-maj · 1949-03-04
- Marshmallowalto saxophone · 299 BPM · Bb-maj · 1949-06-28
- Tautologyalto saxophone · 266 BPM · F-maj · 1949-09-27
- Bop Goes to Leeselalto saxophone · 229 BPM · Bb-maj · 1954-08-06
- I'll Remember Aprilalto saxophone · 211 BPM · G-maj · 1954-08-06
- Mean to Mealto saxophone · 139 BPM · Eb-maj · 1954-08-06
- All the Things You Arealto saxophone · 193 BPM · Ab-maj · 1955-06-11
Awards
Historic 78 rpm records
- SUBCONCIOUS-LEE LENNIE TRISTANO QUINTET · LEE KONITZ · BILLY BAUER · SHELLY MANNE ·… · 1949 archive.org ↗
- SUBCONCIOUS-LEE LENNIE TRISTANO QUINTET · Lee Konitz · Billy Bauer · Shelly Manne ·… · 1949 archive.org ↗
- SUBCONCIOUS-LEE LENNIE TRISTANO QUINTET · Lee Konitz · Billy Bauer · Shelly Manne ·… · 1949 archive.org ↗
Listen on Spotify
Frequently asked questions
What instrument did Lee Konitz play?
Lee Konitz is known for playing alto saxophone and soprano saxophone.
When and where was Lee Konitz born?
Lee Konitz was born 13 October 1927 in Chicago.
What are Lee Konitz's best-known albums?
Albums in our database include The New Sounds (1951), Lee Konitz Plays With the Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1953), Originalee Konitz (1953), Konitz (1954) and Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh (1955).
External links
- en.wikipedia.org ↗
- de.wikipedia.org ↗
- it.wikipedia.org ↗
- wikidata.org ↗
- musicbrainz.org ↗
- discogs.com ↗
- allmusic.com ↗
Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.