Lee Konitz

American jazz saxophonist and composer (born October 13, 1927, Chicago, Illinois, USA; died April 15, 2020, Lenox Hill Hospital, Greenwich Village, New York City).

Inspired by [a254768], Konitz began playing the clarinet aged 11 and studied with a member of the [a837562], switching to the tenor saxophone in 1942, then finally the alto. Began performing professionally with [a2095441] in 1945, with [a313126] from 1947, but his most significant association was with pianist [a259086], whom he first met and worked with in 1946. He recorded with a nonet in 1949-50 (later collected as the [a23755] "Birth of the Cool" album). Formed an association with another Tristano acolyte, [a259089], during the 1950s.

Received Denmark's Jazzpar prize in 1992. Died from the the effects of the coronavirus and pneumonia.