A biography for Lee Konitzhasn’t been written yet.
“Out of Coltrane's whole history, there are things which I think are great from all the periods.”
“I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.”
“Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That's why I wanted the clarinet.”
“Many people do think it's naive to improvise in front of paying customers. I'm not saying one way is better than another.”
“I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I really don't want to know that. I just want to know that there's a combination of notes that makes a sound.”
“As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be some jazz.”
“In some ways Lester Young is the most complex rhythmically of any musician. He does some things which are just phenomenal.”