Lee Konitz R.I.P.

[ep1str0phy]

Hey, folks-

Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news, but I'm getting reports all across my social media feed of Lee Konitz's passing (Birdland Jazz Club's FB page seems the most "official" as of yet, but info is spreading inside the musicians community). 

BTW: I should note that I'm receiving this info from inside the community. Said sources tend to be reliable, otherwise I wouldn't have posted. If someone can verify either way, please do (and I'd be happy to delete/modify this thread as necessary).

Edited April 15, 2020 by ep1str0phy

[J.A.W.]

This is very sad news. Met him once. One of the great alto saxophonists.

Edited April 15, 2020 by J.A.W.

[HutchFan]

Oh no, no, NO!  Ugggghhhh.

Damn.  This is a tough one. 

R.I.P.  

[colinmce]

He was as close to peerless as you can get.

[Dave James]

Another irreplaceable giant calls for the check.  Not many difference makers are left.  

[Brad]

That is a real shame. 

[JSngry]

 

[Hardbopjazz]

The Cause of death was pneumonia. Rest In Peace, Lee. Thank you for the great music and your sense of humor. Thoughts with you and your family.f death was pneumonia. Rest in peace Lee. Thank you for the great music and your sense of humor. Thoughts with you and your family.

I remember one time seeing him live at the village vanguard. He finished his set and announce to the audience he was going to  go outside and smoke a joint. If anybody wanted to come outside and join him.  “I’ll be by the back door.”  

Another time at the Vanguard, he played about a 55 minute set and started to walk off the stage. Lorraine Gordon yelled get back up there you owe me 10 more minutes. Lee did, and he played a solo Sweet Lorraine for about 10 minutes.  Lorraine then shouted “ OK, I’ll can pay you now.“

Edited April 16, 2020 by Hardbopjazz

[JSngry]

 

[gmonahan]

Such sad news. By all accounts a very gentle man, and what a marvelously individual style he had! RIP

 

 

 

gregmo

[mjzee]

RIP.  He was his authentic voice.  A lot of jazz history just died.

[JSngry]

 

[clifford_thornton]

Saw something alluding to this on Brad Linde's instagram. 

RIP. What a life! Feel lucky to have seen him a few times.

[jazztrain]

Very sad to hear this.  I was fortunate to have seen have a handful of times.  He left quite a legacy.  A giant!

[Misterioso]

Thank you for your wonderful music and rest in peace. A very sad day.

[Ken Dryden]

I had the pleasure of seeing Lee Konitz live just once, leading a group with Paul Motian and Dan Tepfer at Birdland years ago. I love his music and have collected it extensively (114 CDs under his name, plus the ones he shares co-leadership with others), but never did interview him, a missed opportunity.

[Larry Kart]

Of all the players I've heard, probably Lee was the closest to my heart. Fortunately we had some nice face-to-face encounters, and he told me he liked some of the things I'd written about him. What a rich life! He gave the world so much.

[Quasimado]

Thanks Lee. R.I.P.

[LWayne]

Also glad to have seen him three times. Many fond memories. Always on top of his game. Will miss his incredible sound. What a loss!

This one really hurts...

LWayne

[Hardbopjazz]

These are not my photos. Lee, Jimmy Cobb and George Coleman have dinner at the Jazz club Smoke in NYC.

 

 

Three master.

[sgcim]

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

 

I was at that concert. I took my high school girlfriend to see Lee at the Theatre De Lys in Manhattan, thinking that she'd be impressed. Lee was so awkward when he did that speech about Bird and Supersax, she thought he was juiced. It was a very uncomfortable ten minutes, but it was all part of Lee's spontaneous genius.

RIP, to one of the greatest improvisers that ever lived...

[Joe]

An era is truly coming to an end. Indeed, we aren't likely to hear anyone quite like Lee again. But he left us so much great music.

[Milestones]

R.I.P. Mr. Konitz

I don' know how many sax players of his stature and even close to his age are still left.

 

 

[mjzee]

The one time I saw Lee, he was with Attila Zoller and Don Friedman at the New School.  Magic.

[Larry Kart]

Bill Kirchner did an excellent interview with a very relaxed Lee several years ago:

https://amhistory.si.edu/jazz/Konitz-Lee/Konitz_Lee_Interview_Transcription.pdf

There are some typos -- e.g. "Sy Toff" for Cy Touff, "Billy Eckstine" for Billy Exiner, "Cyn" for Senn High School -- but the interview is a font of information, much of it not available elsewhere.