| Lee Konitz | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lee Konitz |
| Born | October 13, 1927 |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Jazz Cool jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist, Composer |
| Instrument(s) | Alto saxophone |
| Associated acts | Jim Hall, Elvin Jones, Lennie Tristano Warne Marsh |
Lee Konitz (b. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Cool jazz is a Jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The alto saxophone is a member of the Saxophone a family of Woodwind instruments invented by Adolphe Sax. James Stanley Hall (born December 4, 1930, Buffalo New York) is an American Jazz Guitarist. Elvin Ray Jones ( 9 September 1927 &ndash 18 May 2004) was one of the most influential jazz drummers of the Post-bop era Leonard Joseph Tristano ( 19 March[[ 919]] - 18 November[[ 978]] was a Jazz Pianist and Composer. Warne Marion Marsh ( 26 October 1927 - 17 December 1987) was an American tenor saxophonist born in Los Angeles October 13, 1927) is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance The alto saxophone is a member of the Saxophone a family of Woodwind instruments invented by Adolphe Sax. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. He has been noted to be one of the few alto saxophonists of his era to remain uninfluenced by Charlie Parker. [1] His approach—more subdued and measured than that of Parker—took several fellow musicians some time to grow accustomed to after first listens. This does not mean to imply that he feels his approach toward the alto sax in any way superior to that of Parker. If anything, it is the other way around. [2] "Bird"—as Charlie Parker is known—would often tell Konitz that he appreciated the fact that he didn't play like him. [3]
Konitz is sometimes regarded as the preeminent cool jazz saxophonist, because he performed and recorded with Claude Thornhill, Lennie Tristano (both often cited as important cool jazz proponents of the mid 1940s), and with Miles Davis on his epochal Birth of the Cool. Cool jazz is a Jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. Claude Thornhill (* August 10, 1909 at Terre Haute Indiana † July 1, 1965, New York City) was an American Leonard Joseph Tristano ( 19 March[[ 919]] - 18 November[[ 978]] was a Jazz Pianist and Composer. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. Birth of the Cool is an album which compiles twelve songs recorded by the Miles Davis nonet for Capitol Records in 1949 and He has also stated that he can play the alto in any key, and that the tone of Lester Young and Johnny Hodges were major influences on his own. In Music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways Lester Willis Young ( August 27, 1909 &ndash March 15, 1959) nickname 'Prez' was an American Jazz tenor Saxophonist John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges ( 25 July, 1906 in Cambridge, Massachusetts – 11 May, 1970) was an American [4]
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Lee Konitz was born in 1927 in Chicago, Illinois into a Jewish family. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ At age eight Konitz received his first instrument—a clarinet—but later dropped the instrument in favor of the tenor saxophone. The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the Saxophone family a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s Konitz eventually moved from tenor to alto. His greatest influences at the time were the swing big bands he and his brother listened to on the radio, in particular Benny Goodman. Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Hearing Goodman on the radio is actually what prodded him to ask for a clarinet. On the saxophone he recalls improvising before ever learning to play any standards. [5]
Career
Konitz began his professional career in 1945 with the Teddy Powell band as a replacement for Charlie Ventura. Teddy Powell (Teodoro Paolella ( March 1 1905, Oakland, California - November 17 1993, New York) was an American Charlie Ventura (born Charles Venturo on December 2, 1916 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania; died January 17, 1992 in Pleasantville The engagement apparently did not start out smoothly, as Ventura is said to have banged his head against a wall when Konitz played. A month later the band parted ways. Between 1945 and 1947 he worked off and on with Jerry Wald. Jerry Wald ( September 16 1911 &ndash July 13 1962) was an Academy Award -winning American producer and In 1946 he first met pianist Lennie Tristano—himself still a teen—and worked in a small cocktail bar with him. A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra Leonard Joseph Tristano ( 19 March[[ 919]] - 18 November[[ 978]] was a Jazz Pianist and Composer. His next substantial work was done with Claude Thornhill in 1947, with Gil Evans arranging and Gerry Mulligan as a composer in most part. Claude Thornhill (* August 10, 1909 at Terre Haute Indiana † July 1, 1965, New York City) was an American Gil Evans ( 13 May 1912 in Toronto Canada – 20 March 1988 in Cuernavaca, Mexico) was a Jazz Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan (April 6 1927 – January 20 1996 was an American Jazz saxophonist Composer and arranger. [6][7]
In 1949 he teamed up with the Miles Davis group for one or two weeks and again in 1950 to record "Birth of the Cool". Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. Birth of the Cool is an album which compiles twelve songs recorded by the Miles Davis nonet for Capitol Records in 1949 and Konitz has stated that he considered the group to belong to Gerry Mulligan, and credits Lennie Tristano as the true forebearer of "the cool". His debut as leader also came in 1949, with the release of Subconscious-Lee on Prestige Records. Prestige Records was a Record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock ( October 2, 1928 &ndash January 14, 2006) He also turned down an opportunity to work with Benny Goodman that same year—a decision he regrets when looking back. [8]
In the early 1950s, Konitz recorded and toured with Stan Kenton's orchestra. Stanley Newcomb Kenton ( December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was a pianist who led a highly innovative influential and often controversial In 1961, he recorded Motion with Elvin Jones on drums and Sonny Dallas on bass. This spontaneous session, widely regarded as a classic in the cool genre, consisted entirely of standards. The loose trio format aptly featured Konitz's unorthodox phrasing and chromaticism.
In 1967, Konitz recorded The Lee Konitz Duets, a series of duets with various musicians. A duet is a Musical composition or piece for two Performers In Classical music the term is most often used for a composition for two singers The duo configurations were often unusual for the period (saxophone and trombone, two saxophones). The recordings drew on very nearly the entire history of jazz, from a Louis Armstrong dixieland number with valve trombonist Marshall Brown to two completely free duos: one with a Duke Ellington associate, violinist Ray Nance, and one with guitarist Jim Hall. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Dixieland or Dixie is a name for the southeastern portion of the USA; see Southern United States, Dixie. There are many different types of trombones. The most frequently encountered trombones today are the tenor and bass though as with other Renaissance instruments such as the Recorder Marshall Brown (1920 - 1983 was a Jazz musician and educator He played Trombones and less often Bass trumpet or Euphonium. Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the taste or inclination of the musician(s involved in many cases the musicians make Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. The following lists of violinists are available List of classical violinists, names of great violinist from baroque era till 20th century Ray Willis Nance ( December 10, 1913 Chicago - January 28 1976 in New York City) was a Jazz Trumpeter The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles James Stanley Hall (born December 4, 1930, Buffalo New York) is an American Jazz Guitarist.
Konitz contributed to the film score for Desperate Characters (1971). A film score is a broad term referring to the music in a film which is generally categorically separated from songs used within a film Desperate Characters is a 1971 American Drama film produced written and directed by Frank D
Konitz has been quite prolific, recording dozens of albums as a band leader. A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as He has also recorded or performed with Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Elvin Jones and others. David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist Ornette Coleman (born March 9, 1930) is an American saxophonist Violinist Trumpeter and Composer. Charles Mingus ( 22 April 1922 &ndash 5 January 1979) was an American Jazz Bassist, Composer, Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan (April 6 1927 – January 20 1996 was an American Jazz saxophonist Composer and arranger. Elvin Ray Jones ( 9 September 1927 &ndash 18 May 2004) was one of the most influential jazz drummers of the Post-bop era
Konitz has become more experimental as he grows older, and has released a number of free and avant-garde jazz albums, playing alongside many far younger musicians. He has released albums on contemporary free jazz/improv labels such as hatART, Soul Jazz and Omnitone.
Personal life
Charlie Parker lent him support on the day Konitz's child was being born in Seattle, Washington with him stuck in New York City. The City of New York The two were actually good friends, and not the rivals some jazz critics once made them out to be. [9] He has also had problems with his heart which he has received surgery for in the past. [10]
Discography
| Year | Album | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | "1947 Transcription Performances" | Claude Thornhill (Orchestra) CD, 1999 | Hep Records |
| 1948 | "1947 Transcription Performances" | Claude Thornhill (Orchestra) CD, 1994 | Hep Records |
| 1953 | "Konitz Meets Mulligan" | Lee Konitz with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet | Pacific Jazz |
References
- ^ Gordon, Jack (2004). Claude Thornhill (* August 10, 1909 at Terre Haute Indiana † July 1, 1965, New York City) was an American Hep Records is a Scottish Record label specializing in both new and reissued Jazz music Jack Leon Gordon ( November 10, 1939 - April 19, 2005) was the former manager and husband of singer La Toya Jackson. Fifties Jazz Talk: An Oral Retrospective. Scarecrow Press, 122. ISBN 0810849976.
- ^ Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center. Retrieved on 2007-05-31. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
- ^ "Ibid"; An Interview with Lee Konitz
- ^ "Ibid"; An Interview with Lee Konitz
- ^ Robinson, Michael. An interview with Lee Konitz. Retrieved on 2007-05-31. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
- ^ "Ibid"; Gordon, Jack
- ^ "Ibid"; Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center
- ^ "Ibid"; Gordon, Jack
- ^ "Ibid"; An Interview with Lee Konitz
- ^ Jung, Fred. A Fireside Chat With Lee Konitz. Retrieved on 2007-05-32. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
External links
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