Jazz Articles about Lee Konitz

Lee Konitz / Martial Solal: Star Eyes

by Matthew Miller
July 11, 2009

Lee Konitz and Martial Solal were in the 15th year of their recorded relationship in the fall of 1983 and their easy rapport is evident within the first notes of “Just Friends," the breezy opener of Star Eyes. After a cursory harmonic introduction by Konitz, Solal enters with a characteristically buoyant counterpoint that sends the altoist to the height of his register. The liberties the duo take with the familiar standard sound every bit as fresh today as they must ...

Lee Konitz: Lee Konitz Meets Alessandro Lanzoni Trio

by Stuart Broomer
April 1, 2009

This CD is exciting enough to require several titles, beginning with Lee Konitz meets Alessandro Lanzoni Trio, then Poetical Lee, then 81+15=96!, before concluding with the parenthetical (for Bill Evans). But it's the exclamatory equation 81+15=96! that's at the heart of the enthusiasm, declaring the respective ages of altoist Konitz and pianist Lanzoni. There's a celebration of survival here, as much for a style as a senior musician, for Paolo Piangiarelli has long championed bop-era American saxophonists--his Philology label celebrates ...

Lee Konitz Quartet: Spontaneous Improvisation

by Daniel Kassell
March 28, 2009

Lee Konitz QuartetJazz Legacy SeriesCreole Music Supper ClubNew York, NYMarch 21, 2009

For two nights Lee Konitz was improvising at Creole Restaurant, Third Avenue at 116th Street in Harlem's Barrio. On the Saturday, March 21st 10pm show Mickey Bass introduced the Quartet as part of his Brownstone Entertainment Complex's Jazz Legacy Series, beginning with a joke not worth repeating. Mr. Konitz responded by telling one of his own about a guy at a ...

Lee Konitz & Minsarah: Deep Lee

by Wilbur MacKenzie
January 25, 2009

Saxophonist Lee Konitz possesses a somewhat austere take on jazz improvisation and who has spent well over half a century finding new ways to express his unique viewpoint. Deep Lee finds him in a quartet with three musicians working together under the name Minsarah. Featuring German pianist Florian Weber, Israeli-born drummer Ziv Ravitz and American bassist Jeff Denson, Minsarah moves the piano trio forward by leaps and bounds, combining long-form composition, rich harmonic environments and deep melodic invention to express ...

Lee Konitz: Conversations on the Improviser's Art

by Nic Jones
June 6, 2008

Lee Konitz: Conversations on the Improviser's Art Andy Hamilton Paperback; 312 pages ISBN: 0472032178 University of Michigan Press 2007

Saxophonist Lee Konitz has long been known for the singularity of his musical approach. Andy Hamilton's book accordingly serves Konitz a whole lot better than might a conventional biography. As the title suggests, the author has compiled a view of the saxophonist through the interview format, and the result ...

Lee Konitz: Portology and Ashiya

by Ken Dryden
April 6, 2008

Lee Konitz/Ohad Talmor Big Band, featuring Orquestra Jazz de MatosinhosPortologyOmniTone2007 Walter Lang & Lee KonitzAshiyaPirouet2007 Lee Konitz has displayed the spirit of adventure during his long career, never settling for long into any one style of playing or band lineup. Whether performing solo, in a small group or with a large ensemble, the alto saxophonist continues to ...

Aa. Vv.: I Grandi Concerti - The Brass Group Palermo - Volume 1

by AAJ Italy Staff
March 14, 2008

Tra la marea di compilation, collane monografiche, dizionari enciclopedici che cercano di svolgere opera divulgativa del verbo jazzistico, ci si imbatte talvolta in pubblicazioni davvero interessanti. Come questo I Grandi Concerti - The Brass Group Palermo - Volume 1, prima uscita di un progetto ideato e realizzato dal nostro collaboratore Maurizio Zerbo con l’intento di dare testimonianza all’attività più che trentennale del Brass Group di Palermo. Testimonianza di grande valore storico, oltre che musicale. Perché l’associazione musicale fondata dal maestro ...