Body And Soul – 2013
Lee Konitz
The veteran alto-saxophonist digs into a classic ballad
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Altoist Lee Konitz (1927-2020) had a remarkably long and consistently creative career.
In 1947, Konitz was one of the very few young saxophonists (particularly on alto) who did not have Charlie Parker as a dominant influence; even that early, he sounded very much like himself.
While associated with Lennie Tristano in the late 1940s, Konitz was very much his own man, working with Stan Kenton’s greatest band (1952-53), recording collaborations with tenor-saxophonist Warne Marsh, exploring free improvisations, and always having a fertile musical curiosity that resulted in a long string of musical associations that lasted until he was 92.
Konitz never played it safe.
In 2013 at the age of 85, he was joined by pianist Dan Tepfer, bassist Jeremy Stratton, and drummer George Schuller for this typically searching and quietly creative version of “Body And Soul.”
-Scott Yanow
Stan Getz