Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

October 13, 1927 in Chicago, IL

Death

:

April 15, 2020 in New York City, NY

 

Lee Konitz was an American jazz composer and saxophonist who was born on October 13, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in a musical family, and his father was a clarinetist who played in a local symphony orchestra. Konitz began playing the clarinet at a young age, but he switched to the alto saxophone when he was a teenager. Konitz's early musical influences included Benny Goodman, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. He began playing professionally in the late 1940s, and he quickly gained a reputation as a talented and innovative musician. In 1949, he joined the Claude Thornhill Orchestra, where he played alongside Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, and others. In the early 1950s, Konitz became a member of the Miles Davis Nonet, which was a groundbreaking ensemble that combined elements of jazz and classical music. Konitz's contributions to the Nonet's recordings, including the classic album "Birth of the Cool," helped to establish him as one of the most important and influential musicians of his generation. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Konitz continued to perform and record with a variety of jazz ensembles, including those led by Lennie Tristano, Warne Marsh, and Stan Kenton. He also began to develop his own unique style as a composer, which was characterized by its use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms. One of Konitz's most famous compositions is "Subconscious-Lee," which he wrote in 1949. The tune has become a jazz standard, and it has been recorded by countless musicians over the years. Other notable compositions by Konitz include "Kary's Trance," "Thingin'," and "Five, Four and Three." In the 1970s and 1980s, Konitz continued to perform and record extensively, both as a solo artist and as a member of various ensembles. He also began to explore new musical directions, including free improvisation and collaborations with musicians from other genres. Konitz's later years were marked by a continued dedication to his craft and a willingness to experiment and take risks. He remained an active performer and recording artist until his death on April 15, 2020, at the age of 92. Throughout his long and illustrious career, Lee Konitz made significant contributions to the world of jazz and classical music. His innovative compositions and improvisations helped to push the boundaries of the genre, and his influence can still be heard in the work of countless musicians today.

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