Lee Konitz © Andrea Canter

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. A significant jazz pioneer, 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 clone. Always a trail-blazer, Konitz also collaborated on what is considered the first free jazz recording, Crosscurrents, 1949. His influence is seen in West Coast alto saxophonists Art Pepper, Bud Shank, and Paul Desmond.

In the early 1960s, as opportunities for performances declined, Konitz withdrew from the public eye and took on day work. However, Konitz continued to develop his unique sound, occasionally working with such musicians as Paul Bley, Martial Solal, Charlie Haden, and Brad Mehldau. He worked as a private teacher, conducting lessons by tape with students worldwide. Konitz joined with Warne Marsh, his fellow sideman from early Tristano sessions, to tour Europe and record in 1975-76; he also founded his own nonet and performed regularly during the 1980s.

In 1992, Konitz won the prestigious Danish JAZZPAR Prize. He kept a busy release schedule throughout the 1990s and recorded Lee Konitz & The Axis String Quartet: Plays French Impressionist Music of the 21st Century (Palmetto 2000), which combined French impressionist music with Konitz's own improvisation. The Mark Masters Ensemble joined him for One Day with Lee (2004). Most recent releases include Inventions, featuring the Spring String Quartet (Omnitone 2006); New Nonet (Omnitone 2006); and Portology, featuring Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (Omnitone 2007).  Currently, Konitz is traveling and performing more than ever.

Matt Wilson © Andrea Canter

Dizzy's is located at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center Broadway at 60th Street, on the 5th Floor. For Reservations Call: 212 258-9595 or -9795. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis either at tables or at the bar. For more information, visit: www.jalc.org/dccc

Jazz at Lincoln Center is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to jazz. With the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and a comprehensive array of guest artists, Jazz at Lincoln Center advances a unique vision for the continued development of the art of jazz by producing a year-round schedule of performance, education and broadcast events for audiences of all ages.