Accessibility links
Lee Konitz Jazz saxophonist and composer

Lee Konitz

In Memoriam: 10 Jazz Artists We Lost In 2020

Jazz Night In America's 2020 In Memoriam program includes Jimmy Heath, Lee Konitz, CÃ ndido Camero, Tony Allen, Annie Ross, Freddy Cole, Gary Peacock, Henry Grimes, Wallace Roney and McCoy Tyner. Bernard Benant, Jonathan Chimene/WBGO, David Kaufman, Tom Pich hide caption

toggle caption
Bernard Benant, Jonathan Chimene/WBGO, David Kaufman, Tom Pich

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

In Memoriam: 10 Jazz Artists We Lost In 2020

We remember luminaries we lost this year in our In Memoriam program: Jimmy Heath; Lee Konitz; Càndido; Tony Allen; Annie Ross; Freddy Cole; Gary Peacock; Henry Grimes; Wallace Roney; and McCoy Tyner.

In Memoriam: 10 Jazz Artists We Lost In 2020

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947111849/947383093" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lee Konitz, Prolific And Influential Jazz Saxophonist, Dies At 92

Saxophonist Lee Konitz, playing at New York's Village Vanguard in 2010. John Rogers/For NPR hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers/For NPR

Coronavirus Updates

Lee Konitz, Prolific And Influential Jazz Saxophonist, Dies At 92

Konitz was devoted to improvisation and played on more than 100 albums over a seven-decade career, including the historic sessions that became Miles Davis' album Birth of the Cool.

Lee Konitz, Prolific And Influential Jazz Saxophonist, Dies At 92

Listen · 3:38
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/835634362/835710075" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Lee Konitz On Piano Jazz

Lee Konitz. Bob Travis/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Bob Travis/Courtesy of the artist

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Lee Konitz On Piano Jazz

The alto saxophonist stops by to present a master class in improvisation on the standards with host Marian McPartland.

Lee Konitz On Piano Jazz

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/212662524/547661512" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lee Konitz: Still Something New, 60 Years Later

Prolific saxophonist Lee Konitz has yet to stop recording and performing. Enja Records hide caption

toggle caption
Enja Records

Music Interviews

Lee Konitz: Still Something New, 60 Years Later

Saxophonist Lee Konitz became famous as a leading figure of what was dubbed the "cool jazz" sound. Now, at 82, Konitz is as busy as ever.

Lee Konitz: Still Something New, 60 Years Later

Listen · 6:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128953406/128959702" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Lee Konitz: Always Stretching His Sax

Lee Konitz performs at the Village Vanguard. John Rogers/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers/johnrogersnyc.com

Review

Music Reviews

Lee Konitz: Always Stretching His Sax

Fresh Air

Three new Konitz recordings radiate the joy of making music in every note.

Lee Konitz: Always Stretching His Sax

Listen · 6:21
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128723184/128776128" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Lee Konitz Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

Lee Konitz. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

Live At The Village Vanguard

Lee Konitz Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

He's an octogenarian and jazz legend, but he's still going full tilt. Joined by two much younger musicians, the wonderfully unpredictable alto saxophonist performs live at the great New York venue.

Lee Konitz Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

Listen · 1:10:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/122688265/122812070" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org