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Lee Konitz Trio, Sunday, April 27th in San Francisco |
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Written by Don Berryman
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
 Lee Konitz © Andrea Canter "Konitz is a master of the art of jazz improvisation. The alto saxophonist on Miles Davis' historic Birth Of The Cool sessions, both sideman and leader in an extraordinarily wide range of contexts, Konitz is a musician of unshakable integrity who has continued to develop and refine his craft." -David Kastin, Downbeat Magazine
“Konitz is still able to…blow your mind” – The New York Times SFJazz with present alto sax legend Lee Konitz on Sunday, April 27, 7PM at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street at 3rd St. in San Francisco. Lee Konitz has performed and recorded with Claude Thornhill, Lennie Tristano, and with Miles Davis on The Birth of the Cool, which gave the genre its name. In the early 1950s, Konitz recorded and toured with Stan Kenton's orchestra. Known for his unique phrasing and chromaticism, Konitz is an iconoclast who was one of the few alto saxophonists of the late 1940s and 1950s who was not a Charlie Parker imitator. Always a trail-blazer, Konitz also collaborated on what is considered the first free jazz recording, Crosscurrents, 1949.
 Lee Konitz © Howard A. Gitelson The last survivor of Miles Davis' The Birth of Cool sessions, Lee Konitz is regarded as the preeminent cool jazz saxophonist. Despite the 'cool' label, and his age, Konitz plays with the sort fiery passion usually associated with youth. Lee Konitz performed and recorded with Claude Thornhill, Lennie Tristano, and with Miles Davis. Konitz recorded and toured with Stan Kenton's orchestra. Known for his unique phrasing and chromaticism, Konitz is an iconoclast who was one of the few alto saxophonists of the late 1940s and 1950s who was not a Charlie Parker imitator.
Konitz has been extremely prolific, recording scores of albums as a band leader. He has also recorded or performed with Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Elvin Jones and others. Over his 60 plus year career he has become ever more adventurous and expansive in his playing. Konitz has a fondness for jazz standards, but he really turns them inside-out, exploring and expanding harmony and melody in a way that reveals new and sometimes startling beauty. In recent recordings, including Alone Together with Brad Mehldau and Charlie Haden, Konitz continues to push toward more free and avant-garde expressions. He also leads a nonet that plays his compositions. SFJazz with present alto sax legend Lee Konitz on Sunday, April 27, 7PM at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street at 3rd St in San Francisco- $35 General Admission. For tickets and more information, call 866-920-JAZZ or visit sfjazz.org
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Saturday, 17 May 2008
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