Lee Konitz on NPR's "All Things Considered" tonight

[ghost of miles]

Just wanted to give a heads-up--heard a plug for it a few minutes ago. Ironically enough, we're re-airing Lee Konitz: the Verve Years this week on Night Lights.

[ghost of miles]

The NPR segment is now posted for online listening:

Lee Konitz: Still Something New, 60 Years Later

[Cliff Englewood]

Thanks for posting this, sounds like I should get my hands on the recording with Dan Tepfer.

[AllenLowe]

interesting piece, but the person who did it really didn't know enough about Konitz to pull enough out of him - and his comment that Konitz is the most open minded musician in the world (or words to that effect) is disingenuous - I love Lee's playing, but look up his comments on people like Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Eric Dolphy, not to mention Ayler. He's progressive, but in that way of 1950s progressives like Johnny Carisi, who I knew, and who was VERY conservative in the realm of the post-60's jazz avant garde.

This may seem like nitpicking but it's not; any jazz commentator should be aware of thes stylistic schisms.

[Quasimado]

Lee is right... even as he doesn't play as well as he has done, but then, he's in his 80s...

If you don't have some kind of standard (standards?) in which musicians can demonstrate their understanding of melody, rhythm and Swing (put all these things together and think Western Raga), as has been established by the generally accepted Great jazz musicians of the past, then you might as well give Jazz away... just forget it...

But (whatever) It (Jazz/ swing) won't go away, because it's so attractive to so many hip people who want to work within it's parameters ...

Q

[paul secor]

Lee is right... even as he doesn't play as well as he has done, but then, he's in his 80s...

If you don't have some kind of standard (standards?) in which musicians can demonstrate their understanding of melody, rhythm and Swing (put all these things together and think Western Raga), as has been established by the generally accepted Great jazz musicians of the past, then you might as well give Jazz away... just forget it...

But (whatever) It (Jazz/ swing) won't go away, because it's so attractive to so many hip people who want to work within it's parameters ...

Q

Lee may be right for him - just not for me.

[AllenLowe]

not for anybody, unless they've been asleep for about 40 years.

Edited August 5, 2010 by AllenLowe

[JSngry]

What Lee might not be interested in breadth, he more than makes up for in depth.

We are all pieces of the puzzle. No one person is ever gonna be the whole thing.

[AllenLowe]

I agree - I just always find it interesting when the former revolutionaries put down the later rebels -

I once did a lecture called "Who Hates Whom and Why" about the relative conservatism of the old-guard jazz radicals.

[JSngry]

Youth has no point of reference from which to ponder its own obsolescence.

That's a big advantage while it lasts....

[Big Al]

Thanks for posting this, Ghost. Enjoyed the music being played.

[MartyJazz]

interesting piece, but the person who did it really didn't know enough about Konitz to pull enough out of him - and his comment that Konitz is the most open minded musician in the world (or words to that effect) is disingenuous - I love Lee's playing, but look up his comments on people like Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Eric Dolphy, not to mention Ayler. He's progressive, but in that way of 1950s progressives like Johnny Carisi, who I knew, and who was VERY conservative in the realm of the post-60's jazz avant garde.

This may seem like nitpicking but it's not; any jazz commentator should be aware of thes stylistic schisms.

In the past issue of Jazz Times, Konitz took a beating in the Letters section on account of his critical "Before and After" remarks re certain musicians the previous month. In particular, he called Benny Carter's playing on the chosen cut "schmaltzy", referred to Sonny Stitt on his cut as "a thief of the first order" and also had something negative to say about Phil Woods. I got a kick out of Kontiz's outspoken comments, not only because I myself have on occasion had similar opinions (especially re the revered Carter), but because I think that Konitz at age 83 after a lifetime of significant work, is entitled to say exactly what he wants.

Edited August 6, 2010 by MartyJazz

[AllenLowe]

I liked that Before and After. I don't object to Konitz having strong opinions, only wanted to point out that there are limits to his open-mindedness (and I think he has been pretty unfair to Braxton).

Edited August 6, 2010 by AllenLowe

[MartyJazz]

I liked that Before and After. I don't object to Konitz having strong opinions, only wanted to point out that there are limits to his open-mindedness (and I think he has been pretty unfair to Braxton).

Don't know what criticism he hurled at Braxton, but now I wonder what the atmosphere on the Brubeck Atlantic date was like wherein Konitz and Braxton participated. I recall having liked their respective contributions on the take of "All the Things You Are".

Edited August 6, 2010 by MartyJazz

[AllenLowe]

there's some old blindfold test, I think, or maybe an interview, in which Konitz puts Braxton down. It's out there somewhere, and may have been in response to Anthony's standards records, though I am not sure.