Jazz Articles about Lennie Niehaus

Lennie Niehaus: Volume 5: The Sextet

by Craig Jolley
February 1, 2002

Lennie Niehaus is best known these days for his Hollywood film scores. He came up on the 1950's California scene and joined the Kenton band, replacing Lee Konitz as the primary alto soloist. After establishing himself as a player he began writing for the band as well. Simultaneously he led a series of fondly-remembered small band (5 to 8 pieces) recordings with other Kenton band members of the era.

These recordings were built around Niehaus' writing. His style was typical ...

Lennie Niehaus: Vol. 5: The Sextet

by AAJ Staff
January 1, 2002

The West Coast scene of the fifties produced few big names and ever fewer classic albums, but nevertheless provided fertile soil for some of the most stylish and consistent music in the history of jazz. For the most part, the artists working in the sunny climes of California were content to work within the established boundaries rather than extending them, keeping the art of arranging and sticking close to the melody vital at a time when most players were itching ...

Lennie Niehaus: Vol. 1: The Quintets

by David Rickert
February 1, 2001

Cool jazz has always represented the tweed jacket and horn-rimmed glasses approach to the music and has often been criticized for stealing jazz away from smoky bars to college lecture halls and living room hifis. A style that could only have been conceived during the optimistic bliss of the Eisenhower administration and the warm breezes of California, cool jazz was doomed to be overrun by the turbulent 60s and the angry, socially conscious music that was its byproduct. Indeed, cool ...