Lee Konitz Nonet
Straight-ahead jazz - Bop
Lee Konitz (alto sax); Gary Smulyan (baritone sax); Ohad Talmor (tenor sax); Erik Friedlander (cello); Stephane Belmondo (trumpet); Jacob Garchik (trombone); Ben Monder (guitar); Bob Bowen (bass); Matt Wilson; Christophe Schweizer, John Hollendeck.
Fri 9 July 2004 22:30 - 23:45 Jan Steen Hall
[trans_artistinfo_about]
The wayward alto saxophonist Lee Konitz was first heard of in the orchestra of Claude Thornhill. A year later, in 1948, he already could be found in the historic Birth of the Cool nonet of Miles Davis and Gil Evans. In spite of these early successes Konitz kept on searching for musicians and mentors who were willing to stray from the every day musical paths. He studied with the unique pianist Lennie Tristano and befriended saxophonist Warne Marsh. These two iconoclasts would leave their mark on Konitz’s playing for ever and a day. In the fifties he left the cool school and joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra, where his ethereal phrases transcended the orchestra like silver birds. Up to this day his choice of notes has remained all but free of clichés and that makes Konitz one of the most interesting alto players of modern day jazz.
