Lee Konitz

Lee Konitz

bebop, jazz

United States

About

Sound in a sentence: "An airy yet intricate tapestry unfolds with each note, characterized by delicate pacing and a deliberate interplay between melody and silence."
Lee Konitz matters because his presence in the jazz landscape has redefined the role of the improvising musician, emphasizing a more cerebral and introspective approach to the genre.
Lee Konitz matters because his presence in the jazz landscape has redefined the role of the improvising musician, emphasizing a more cerebral and introspective approach to the genre. Through his distinctive sound on the alto saxophone, he has influenced generations of musicians to prioritize individual expression over mere technical prowess, creating a lasting impact on both players and listeners alike. Konitz's innovation lies in his ability to intertwine cool jazz sensibilities with an avant-garde touch, often exploring melodies that are intricate yet spacious. His process is marked by a conversational style of improvisation, where spontaneity meets deep musical intuition, allowing him to navigate through complex harmonic frameworks with ease. This approach invites listeners into a dialogue rather than a performance, creating an immersive experience that feels both personal and expansive. Lyrically unbound by traditional structures, Konitz often channels themes of introspection and emotional depth through his instrumental storytelling. His tone oscillates between reflective and playful, effortlessly weaving together strands of irony and sincerity. Each phrase carries a weight that leaves room for interpretation, inviting audiences to find their own meanings within the music’s subtle nuances.

Discography

69 releases 69 studio 1953–2014
Type: |
Lee Konitz Plays
Lee Konitz Plays (1953)
Jazz at Storyville
Jazz at Storyville (1954)
Konitz
Konitz (1954)
Lee Konitz in Harvard Square
Lee Konitz in Harvar... (1954)
Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh
Lee Konitz with Warn... (1955)
Subconscious-Lee
Subconscious-Lee (1955)
Inside Hi-Fi
Inside Hi-Fi (1956)
Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet
Lee Konitz Plays wit... (1957)
Very Cool
Very Cool (1957)
The Real Lee Konitz
The Real Lee Konitz (1957)
An Image: Lee Konitz with Strings
An Image: Lee Konitz... (1958)
You and Lee
You and Lee (1959)
Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre
Lee Konitz Meets Jim... (1959)
Motion
Motion (1961)
European Episode
European Episode (1968)
Impressive Rome
Impressive Rome (1968)
Alto Summit
Alto Summit (1968)
The Lee Konitz Duets
The Lee Konitz Duets (1968)
Stereokonitz
Stereokonitz (1968)
Peacemeal
Peacemeal (1970)
Spirits
Spirits (1971)
Chicago 'n All That Jazz
Chicago 'n All That... (1975)
Oleo
Oleo (1975)
Lone-Lee
Lone-Lee (1975)
Satori
Satori (1975)
Windows
Windows (1976)
Lee Konitz Meets Warne Marsh Again
Lee Konitz Meets War... (1977)
Pyramid
Pyramid (1977)
Figure & Spirit
Figure & Spirit (1977)
The Lee Konitz Quintet
The Lee Konitz Quint... (1977)
Duplicity
Duplicity (1978)
Tenorlee
Tenorlee (1978)
Four Keys
Four Keys (1979)
Yes, Yes, Nonet
Yes, Yes, Nonet (1979)
Seasons Change
Seasons Change (1980)
Live at the Berlin Jazz Days 1980
Live at the Berlin J... (1982)
Toot Sweet
Toot Sweet (1982)
Dovetail
Dovetail (1983)
Ideal Scene
Ideal Scene (1986)
Glad, Koonix! – Lee Konitz Live in Sweden
Glad, Koonix! – Lee... (1986)
Solitudes
Solitudes (1988)
Art of the Duo
Art of the Duo (1988)
The New York Album
The New York Album (1988)
Blew
Blew (1989)
Zounds
Zounds (1991)
Lunasea
Lunasea (1992)
Live at the Half Note
Live at the Half Not... (1994)
Lullaby of Birdland
Lullaby of Birdland (1994)
Jazz Nocturne
Jazz Nocturne (1994)
Steps Towards a Dream
Steps Towards a Drea... (1995)
Thingin
Thingin (1996)
It's You
It's You (1996)
Alone Together
Alone Together (1997)
Dearly Beloved
Dearly Beloved (1997)
Star Eyes, Hamburg 1983
Star Eyes, Hamburg 1... (1998)
RichLee!
RichLee! (1998)
Dig-It
Dig-It (1999)
Sound of Surprise
Sound of Surprise (1999)
Another Shade of Blue
Another Shade of Blu... (1999)
Pride
Pride (2000)
Organic-Lee
Organic-Lee (2006)
Live in Oslo
Live in Oslo (2007)
Ashiya
Ashiya (2008)
Duos with Lee
Duos with Lee (2009)
Live at Birdland
Live at Birdland (2011)
Costumes Are Mandatory
Costumes Are Mandato... (2013)
Live in Genoa 1981
Live in Genoa 1981 (2013)
First Meeting – Live in London Volume 1
First Meeting – Live... (2014)
Standards Live – At the Village Vanguard
Standards Live – At... (2014)

Albums ()

First Meeting – Live in London Volume 1

First Meeting – Live in London Volume 1

2014

Standards Live – At the Village Vanguard

Standards Live – At the Village Vanguard

2014

Costumes Are Mandatory

Costumes Are Mandatory

2013

Live in Genoa 1981

Live in Genoa 1981

2013

Live at Birdland

Live at Birdland

2011

Duos with Lee

Duos with Lee

2009

Ashiya

Ashiya

2008

Live in Oslo

Live in Oslo

2007

Organic-Lee

Organic-Lee

2006

Pride

Pride

2000

Dig-It

Dig-It

1999

Sound of Surprise

Sound of Surprise

1999

Another Shade of Blue

Another Shade of Blue

1999

Star Eyes, Hamburg 1983

Star Eyes, Hamburg 1983

1998

RichLee!

RichLee!

1998

Alone Together

Alone Together

1997

Dearly Beloved

Dearly Beloved

1997

Thingin

Thingin

1996

It's You

It's You

1996

Steps Towards a Dream

Steps Towards a Dream

1995

Live at the Half Note

Live at the Half Note

1994

Lullaby of Birdland

Lullaby of Birdland

1994

Jazz Nocturne

Jazz Nocturne

1994

Lunasea

Lunasea

1992

Zounds

Zounds

1991

Blew

Blew

1989

Solitudes

Solitudes

1988

Art of the Duo

Art of the Duo

1988

The New York Album

The New York Album

1988

Ideal Scene

Ideal Scene

1986

Glad, Koonix! – Lee Konitz Live in Sweden

Glad, Koonix! – Lee Konitz Live in Sweden

1986

Dovetail

Dovetail

1983

Live at the Berlin Jazz Days 1980

Live at the Berlin Jazz Days 1980

1982

Toot Sweet

Toot Sweet

1982

Seasons Change

Seasons Change

1980

Four Keys

Four Keys

1979

Yes, Yes, Nonet

Yes, Yes, Nonet

1979

Duplicity

Duplicity

1978

Tenorlee

Tenorlee

1978

Lee Konitz Meets Warne Marsh Again

Lee Konitz Meets Warne Marsh Again

1977

Pyramid

Pyramid

1977

Figure & Spirit

Figure & Spirit

1977

The Lee Konitz Quintet

The Lee Konitz Quintet

1977

Windows

Windows

1976

Chicago 'n All That Jazz

Chicago 'n All That Jazz

1975

Oleo

Oleo

1975

Lone-Lee

Lone-Lee

1975

Satori

Satori

1975

Spirits

Spirits

1971

Peacemeal

Peacemeal

1970

European Episode

European Episode

1968

Impressive Rome

Impressive Rome

1968

Alto Summit

Alto Summit

1968

The Lee Konitz Duets

The Lee Konitz Duets

1968

Stereokonitz

Stereokonitz

1968

Motion

Motion

1961

You and Lee

You and Lee

1959

Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre

Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre

1959

An Image: Lee Konitz with Strings

An Image: Lee Konitz with Strings

1958

Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet

Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet

1957

Very Cool

Very Cool

1957

The Real Lee Konitz

The Real Lee Konitz

1957

Inside Hi-Fi

Inside Hi-Fi

1956

Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh

Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh

1955

Subconscious-Lee

Subconscious-Lee

1955

Jazz at Storyville

Jazz at Storyville

1954

Konitz

Konitz

1954

Lee Konitz in Harvard Square

Lee Konitz in Harvard Square

1954

Lee Konitz Plays

Lee Konitz Plays

1953

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