Lee Konitz & Andreas Schmidt

Over the course of an epic 70-plus-year career, alto saxophonist Lee Konitz's distinctively clean tone and unpretentious harmonies made him a massively influential figure in progressive modern jazz. A protege of pianist Lennie Tristano, Konitz first emerged as a player in the '40s, building upon his main influences like saxophonists Lester Young and Charlie Parker while ably avoiding direct comparisons to either. Along with early work in Stan Kenton's band, he was an original member of Miles Davis' seminal nonet, helping lay the groundwork for the cool jazz sound of the '50s. ...