1. Leon "Lee" Konitz was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer.
24 Facts About Lee Konitz
1. 2.
Lee Konitz performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz.
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Lee Konitz was one of relatively few alto saxophonists of this era to retain a distinctive style, when Charlie Parker exerted a massive influence.
4.
Lee Konitz died during the COVID-19 pandemic from complications brought on by the disease.
5.
Lee Konitz was born in 1927 in Chicago to Jewish emigrants Abraham Lee Konitz and Anna Getlin.
6.
Lee Konitz had two older brothers, Sol and Herman.
7.
Lee Konitz's father, who was born in Brody, Austria-Hungary, operated a laundry business in the back of which the family lived.
8.
Lee Konitz's mother was born in the Pinsk District.
9.
Lee Konitz went to Hebrew school for a short time and went to synagogue sometimes.
10.
The Lee Konitz family was not strict religiously, but observed Jewish holidays and some dietary laws.
11.
At the age of 11, inspired by Benny Goodman, Lee Konitz received his first clarinet.
12.
Lee Konitz received classical training from Lou Honig who taught Johnny Griffin and Eddie Harris.
13.
Lee Konitz greatly admired Louis Armstrong and credited the influence Benny Carter's solo on "I Can't Believe that You're in Love with Me" had on him.
14.
Lee Konitz began his professional career in 1945 with the Teddy Powell band as a replacement for Charlie Ventura.
15.
Lee Konitz participated with Miles Davis in a group that had a brief booking in September 1948 and another the following year, but he recorded with the band in 1949 and 1950; the tracks were later compiled on the album Birth of the Cool.
16.
Lee Konitz stated he considered the group to belong to Mulligan.
17.
Lee Konitz turned down an opportunity to work with Goodman in 1949, a decision he later regretted.
18.
Parker lent him support on the day Lee Konitz's child was born in Seattle, Washington, while he was stuck in New York City.
19.
Lee Konitz contributed to the film score for Desperate Characters.
20.
Lee Konitz worked with Warne Marsh, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Attila Zoller, Gerry Mulligan, and Elvin Jones.
21.
Lee Konitz recorded trio dates with Brad Mehldau and Charlie Haden, released by Blue Note, as well as a live album recorded in 2009 at Birdland and released by ECM in 2011, with drummer Paul Motian.
22.
Lee Konitz was scheduled to appear at Melbourne's Recital Centre in 2011 for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, but canceled due to illness.
23.
Lee Konitz wrote a ballad for her entitled "Gundula" that he recorded for the first time on the 1999 album Pride.
24.
Lee Konitz died at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City on April 15,2020, as a result of pneumonia brought on by COVID-19 during the pandemic in New York City.