Originalee Konitz
Lee Konitz
1953Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Artist profile · 04/07/2026
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz, born in Chicago in 1927, was a seminal American jazz alto saxophonist. He helped pioneer cool jazz and was active from the 1940s through decades of evolving jazz styles.
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About
Lee Konitz, American alto sax pioneer from Chicago to cool jazz stages.
Key 1957 mono LPs and live sessions; 20+ vinyl editions tracked globally.
Lee Konitz is recognized for his clear, fluid alto sax sound distinct from bebop icons. Early in his career he played in Stan Kenton's big band and with jazz innovators including Gerry Mulligan and Miles Davis. Konitz participated in the Birth of the Cool sessions marking a key moment in jazz history. His extensive vinyl discography spans bebop, cool jazz, free jazz, and post-bop, reflecting multiple collaborations including Warne Marsh and Jimmy Giuffre.
His albums include studio and live recordings from the 1950s through the 2010s, with notable labels like Atlantic, Verve, Blue Note, and Milestone releasing his work. Konitz remained dynamically active in jazz for over 70 years until his 2020 passing in New York City.
Discography
Lee Konitz discography
Studio albums, live records, compilations and radio recordings. Each album groups all its editions.
Konitz
Lee Konitz
1954Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette
Subconscious-Lee
Lee Konitz
1955Studio
- Vinyl 2
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Swingtime
Lee Konitz
1956Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Very Cool
Lee Konitz
1957Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
An Image
Lee Konitz
1958Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
You and Lee
Lee Konitz
1959Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Lee Konitz meets Keith Jarrett, Chet Baker & Bill Evans: Live in Europe
Lee Konitz
1965Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Stereokonitz
Lee Konitz
1968Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
At Storyville
Lee Konitz
1971Live
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette
Worth While Konitz
Lee Konitz
1972Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Lone-Lee
Lee Konitz
1975Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Satori
Lee Konitz
1975Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
Jazz a confronto 32
Lee Konitz
1976Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Timespan
Lee Konitz
1977Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Sax of a Kind - Lee Konitz in Sweden 1951/53
Lee Konitz
1979Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Jazz At Storyville
Lee Konitz
1984Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Glad, Koonix! (Lee Konitz Live In Sweden)
Lee Konitz
1986Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Round & Round
Lee Konitz
1988Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Lee Konitz in Rio
Lee Konitz
1989Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
The Lee Konitz Duets
Lee Konitz
1990Studio
- Vinyl 3
- CD 2
- Cassette 1
From Newport to Nice
Lee Konitz
1992Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Rhapsody II
Lee Konitz
1993Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live At The Half Note
Lee Konitz
1994Live
- Vinyl
- CD 2
- Cassette
Rhapsody
Lee Konitz
1995Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 2
- Cassette
Ezz-Thetic
Lee Konitz
1996Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette
It's You
Lee Konitz
1996Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Strings for Holiday
Lee Konitz
1996Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette
Another Shade of Blue
Lee Konitz
1997Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
DiG DuG DoG
Lee Konitz
1997Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 2
- Cassette
Saxophone Dreams
Lee Konitz
1997Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
The Lee Konitz Duets
Lee Konitz
1997Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Motion
Lee Konitz
1998Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Self Portrait
Lee Konitz
1998Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Sound of Surprise
Lee Konitz
1999Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Pride
Lee Konitz
2000Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
After Hours
Lee Konitz
2001Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Inside Rodgers
Lee Konitz
2001Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Parallels
Lee Konitz
2001Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Some New Stuff
Lee Konitz
2001Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Subconscious Lee
Lee Konitz
2002Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live-Lee
Lee Konitz
2003Live
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
New Nonet
Lee Konitz
2006Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Palo Alto
Lee Konitz
2008Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Standards Live ~ At the Village Vanguard
Lee Konitz
2014Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Frescalalto
Lee Konitz
2017Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Chicago 'n' All That Jazz
Lee Konitz
Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Dovetail
Lee Konitz
Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Figure & Spirit
Lee Konitz
Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Spirits
Lee Konitz
Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Tranquility
Lee Konitz
Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Unaccompanied Live in Yokohama
Lee Konitz
Live
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live At The Berlin Jazz Days 1980
Lee Konitz
1980RadioUnofficial radio recording
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
From$23.99
at AmazonData provided by Discogs
Listen
Signature songs
- 01I Remember You
- 02
Foolin' MyselfThe Real Lee Konitz · 1957 - 03Someone to Watch Over Me
- 04Two Not One
- 05Donna Lee
- 06Intuition
- 07
All of MeInside Hi-Fi · 1957 - 08I Can't Get Started
Essentials
3 Lee Konitz albums you need to own
Our picks, approved by the editors.
#1 · 1957A classic 1957 mono album capturing Konitz's cool jazz interaction with Gerry Mulligan's quartet, featuring 10 tracks of bop and west coast stylings.
10 tracksMono pressingReleased on World Pacific RecordsCatalog PJM-406
#2 · 1957This 1957 Atlantic mono LP highlights Konitz’s distinct alto approach across 8 tracks, blending bop and cool jazz idioms.
8 tracksMono pressingReleased on Atlantic RecordsCatalog 1273
#3 · 1957A key 1957 mono album with 8 tracks emphasizing Konitz’s cool jazz phrasing and lyrical alto saxophone tone.
8 tracksMono pressingReleased on Atlantic RecordsCatalog number varies by pressing
Go further
Artists similar to Lee Konitz
Artists who share part of Lee Konitz's musical DNA.
B-side
B-side: the hidden stories of Lee Konitz
Studio secrets, tour stories and B-sides worth the whole album.
01Live Album
Live At The Berlin Jazz Days 1980
The 1982 live LP from MPS Records documents a notable Berlin Jazz Days performance featuring eight tracks including "Invitation" and "Noblesse Oblige" lasting about 45 minutes.
02Studio Album
Lee Konitz Plays With The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Mono, 1957)
This 1957 World Pacific stereo LP captures Konitz alongside Gerry Mulligan playing 10 jazz standards, including "Lady Be Good" and "All The Things You Are", recorded in the US.
03Studio Album
The Real Lee Konitz (Mono, 1957)
Released in 1957 on Atlantic, this mono LP features eight tracks including "Pennies In Minor" and "You Go To My Head", showcasing Konitz's signature alto sax artistry.
"When I start a chorus and discover I've already played it, I stop immediately."— Lee Konitz
05Genre Influence
Departure from Bebop Model
Konitz was the first alto saxophonist of his era to break away from bebop's Charlie Parker influence, pioneering a more fluid, airy cool jazz style.
Lee Konitz vinyl discography
See allPre-order Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre Vinyle Jaune
Lee Konitz
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2025-01-01ErmitageLIVE AT THE BERLIN JAZZ DAYS 1980
Lee Konitz
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2024-05-17VERYCORDSFrom$23.99
1 offerLee Konitz Plays With The Gerry Mulligan Quartet
Lee Konitz
Classique ConcertoMusique Classique
2021-10-15BLUE NOTEFrom$14.95
3 offersFIRST MEETING/LIVE IN LONDON VOL 1
Lee Konitz
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2021-03-12WHIRLWIND RECORDINGS
Lee Konitz CDs
See allLive at the Berlin Jazz Days 1980
Lee Konitz
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2024-05-17VERYCORDSFrom$13.98
1 offer
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FAQ
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Who was Lee Konitz and what genre did he mainly play?
Lee Konitz was an American jazz alto saxophonist known for bebop and cool jazz styles with a clear, fluid tone.
Which are Lee Konitz's most essential vinyl albums?
Essential records include 'Lee Konitz Plays With The Gerry Mulligan Quartet' (1957), 'The Real Lee Konitz' (1957), and 'Inside Hi-Fi' (1957), all notable mono LPs.
What labels released Lee Konitz's key LPs?
Key labels include Atlantic, World Pacific, Blue Note, Verve, and Milestone for various eras of his work.
In what formats are Lee Konitz's vinyl releases mostly found?
Most early releases are mono LPs, with some later reissues and live recordings on various vinyl formats.
Are there notable live Lee Konitz vinyl recordings?
Yes, 'Live At The Berlin Jazz Days 1980' released by MPS Records in 1982 is a key live vinyl album documenting his performance in Berlin.
Where can I find original Lee Konitz vinyl pressings in France?
Original and reissue pressings like 'Live At The Berlin Jazz Days 1980' on MPS Records are available in France with catalog MPS 15577.
Which Lee Konitz albums reflect his free jazz explorations?
Later works on labels such as Candid include free jazz styles, expanding beyond his cool jazz origins.
How influential was Lee Konitz in the jazz saxophone world?
Konitz pioneered a distinct alto sax style influencing cool jazz and artists like Art Pepper and Paul Desmond.
Transparency
Sources & method
This profile is compiled by the vinyles.com editors from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discography data from MusicBrainz (dates, country, active years).
- Tracklists, covers and genres from Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists from Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editors.
Last updated: 04/07/2026