Lee Konitz

Like many jazz musicians associated with the 1950s Cool jazz scene, saxophonist Lee Konitz's beautiful tone has often blinded critics to his innovative spirit, though he quickly earned the notice of his peers in the late '40s from his work with Lennie Tristano and Miles Davis. These sides were not immediately popular, but the public quickly caught on to them in the '50s. The sense of adventure on these recordings kept Konitz on his toes, and he went on to work with such disparate iconoclasts as Stan Kenton, Jimmy Guiffre, Bill Evans, and Joe Henderson. He has kept up a consistent level of excellence throughout the decades, recording pieces that challenge the mind without assaulting the ears. He and a series of spectacular guests chart the entire history of jazz, from New Orleans jams to Avant-Garde free-form explorations on his 1967 Duets album.