Posted 15 Apr 2020 (edited) 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 15 Apr 2020 by ep1str0phy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 15 Apr 2020 (edited) This is very sad news. Met him once. One of the great alto saxophonists. Edited 15 Apr 2020 by J.A.W. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 15 Apr 2020 Oh no, no, NO! Ugggghhhh. Damn. This is a tough one. R.I.P. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 15 Apr 2020 He was as close to peerless as you can get. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 15 Apr 2020 Another irreplaceable giant calls for the check. Not many difference makers are left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 (edited) 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 16 Apr 2020 by Hardbopjazz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 Such sad news. By all accounts a very gentle man, and what a marvelously individual style he had! RIP gregmo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 RIP. He was his authentic voice. A lot of jazz history just died. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 Saw something alluding to this on Brad Linde's instagram. RIP. What a life! Feel lucky to have seen him a few times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 Very sad to hear this. I was fortunate to have seen have a handful of times. He left quite a legacy. A giant! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 Thank you for your wonderful music and rest in peace. A very sad day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 These are not my photos. Lee, Jimmy Cobb and George Coleman have dinner at the Jazz club Smoke in NYC. Three master. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 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... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 R.I.P. Mr. Konitz I don' know how many sax players of his stature and even close to his age are still left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 The one time I saw Lee, he was with Attila Zoller and Don Friedman at the New School. Magic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 16 Apr 2020 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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