Perusing Thursday's Guardian online, I could not help noticing an obituary for Lee Konitz who passed away in New York on Wednesday, reportedly due to respiratory complications after having contracted the coronavirus. The obit was weitten by the jazz critic at the Guardian, John Fordham. An obit was also published in the New York Times by Peter Keepnews (whose surname certainly rings a bell), a jazz writer at the NYT. These obits document in great detail his considerable accomplishments over the years, going all the way back to the late 40s.
Guardian
New York Times
So, to commemorate this sad event, the only thing we can do on this blog is to dip into the past to see if we can find some musical specimens to remember him by. He had a long-running collaboration with Warne Marsh, who passed away in 1987. Both came to represent the cool jazz style typical of the West Coast at the time and both were strongly inspired by the pianist Lennie Tristano. What better then to select an unreleased audience recording with both of them, here from the UK in the mid-70s and from what we know, never officially released. There is an album called London Concert with approximately the same line-up, released on the Wave label, run by Peter Ind, who can be heard here on double bass. This session adds Dave Cliff on guitar.
The facts:
LEE KONITZ-WARNE MARSH QUINTET.
'The Corner House', Whitley Bay, England, December 22, 1975.
Lee Konitz, as; Warne Marsh, ts; Dave Cliff, g; Peter Ind, b; Al Levitt, d.
1 WOW! 11:17
2 SUBCONSCIOUS-LEE 7:34
3 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES 11:00
4 LOVER MAN Marsh out 4:10
5 BACKGROUND MUSIC 10:20
6 SOUND-LEE 10:15
7 APRIL 10:10
8 STAR EYES 9:05
9 GOD BLESS THE CHILD Konitz out 6:40
10 CHI CHI 9:50
11 TWO NOT ONE 9:00
12 BACK HOME (Donna Lee) start omitted, inc. 7:00
all PR recorded by Jack Goodwin.
Kudos to Goodwin for an excellent recording and to whoever posted this on the Dime site back in 2008, I believe. And of course, the music is ultra-fine, too. Enjoy!
Link:
ReplyDeleteAdrive
Many thanks
ReplyDeletePeter Keepnews is the son of legendary producer Orrin Keepnews. Peter is also husband to WFMU host and engineer Irene Trudel. Irene and Peter will be presenting a live Lee Konitz tribute broadcast on WFMU's Drummer Stream at 3pm (eastern) today (19 April). The playlist and chat for the show will be here: https://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/92708
ReplyDeleteHUGE THX, kinabalu!...
ReplyDeleteHenry Grimes and Giuseppi Logan also left us.
ReplyDeleteJust to add to the comment above: Those who won't be able to catch the tribute live, will be relieved to know that the show will be archived and can be listened to at a later date of your choosing.
ReplyDeleteVery sad.
ReplyDeleteMats Gustafsson also did a beautiful tribute to Lee Konitz on Saturday, which will be archived on the Experimental Sound Studio website in a few days. Here
ReplyDeleteThere are many other fabulous performances archived already, many more to come and the chance to support musicians, who will struggle financially through these times, on top of everything else. More successful artists contribute to support those who are struggling.
Also here already.
ReplyDeleteNot that it really matters but for the sake of accuracy -not to mention an old git's pedantry - I have to point out that the Corner House is not in Whitley Bay but is actually in Heaton, Newcastle on the junction of Heaton Road and the Coast Road. Lived not far away in Sandyford and remember seeing a Jimmy Smith-type band led by the late Mike Carr there back in the day. The beer was rubbish, mind!
ReplyDeletethis is very sad. thanks kinabalu
ReplyDeleteAwwh, unknown, it was the romance of Whitley Bay that was really selling this one to me!
ReplyDeleteJust in time kinabalu, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteFurther to unknown's comment, I'm reminded of when Radio 4 referred to "The Gateshead Garden Festival, which is currently being held in Newcastle". And you're right about the beer. It's still rubbish.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Nick, like you I was attracted by the exoticism of the Whitley Bay location. Thought it might have been at the Ice Rink. Bloody Corner House! Mind, back in the days, I saw some great bands there. Thanks Jazz North east.
For the rest of you, this might seem trivial but - I can assure you - for locals, it ain't!!
Oh yes, and thanks for posting this.
Further to the comments by Doug S. and myself above, here is the archive file of the programme on WFMU:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.adrive.com/public/TQ3hwr/it-20200419d.mp3
It runs for 3 hours and 30 minutes plus.
Sad news indeed. I'll look forward to this download from North East England.
ReplyDeleteThe obituary mentions a gig I and (presumably John Fordham) attended which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 from the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2002.
"In 2002 Konitz headlined the London jazz festival, opening the show by inviting the audience to collectively hum a single note while he blew five absorbing minutes of typically airy, variously reluctant and impetuous alto sax variations over it."
Here to enjoy: https://1fichier.com/?svqxtzkyyeg2zasmis5n
Thanks very much, most appreciated.
ReplyDeletethanks nick for the post and the radio show
ReplyDeletelosing konitz happened at same time i lost my dad
both in their 90s
i can truely say i was closer to lee
though i never met him
roberth
Many thanks
ReplyDelete