ABC ABC Jazz

Chicago-born saxophonist Lee Konitz is one of the true legends of American jazz. As part of the Modern Masters series, he will be performing on June 9, 2011 at the Melbourne Recital Hall.

Beginning his career in 1945, he was one of the key players on the cool jazz scene, appearing on Miles Davis' 1957 release Birth of the Cool.  Throughout his career he has played a wide variety of jazz styles with an envious list of jazz legends, including Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan and Bill Evans. 

Joining Konitz for this performance will be special guest Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Dan Tepfer (piano), Joe Sanders (bass) and Johnathan Blake (drums). 

Opening the night will be the Andrea Keller Quartet, featuring Andrea Keller (piano), Eugene Ball (trumpet), Ian Whitehurst (tenor saxophone) and Joe Talia (drums). 

The New York Times described Lee Konitz as a 'certifiable jazz legend'.  If you would like to be in the running to win one of five double passes to the show tell us how you would describe Lee.

Please enter via the online entry form below.

The most creative answers will win the tickets.

Please note that the prize is tickets to the show only, you must be able to make it to the venue.

This competition has closed. 

The winners are:

Christopher Lynch  - Sage-like, somewhat introspective Lee Konitz, remains a quiet yet thoughtful signpost guiding listeners along an atmospheric path of serenity via his tender alto sound. Breathy, not blasting, Lee charts an alternative sound voyage, more reminiscent of a Korean Pansori performer than a flighty bebopper. Lee soothingly transports his beguiled listeners to the mythical borders of Elysium. Lee Konitz is his own man, making his own mystcal journey, on his own terms.

Peter Johnson - Cool mister Konitz .. love his flowing style, one of my favourite LPs is Lee & Warner Marsh, recorded in 1955. Can't turn back the clock to see 2 energetic young musicians, but would love to see a more mature Mr Konitz. Sublime horn music.

Rohan Seekers - Lee Konitz is without a doubt one of the great jazz innovators. From The Birth of The Cool, through his work with Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh, the many classic recordings he has made since, right up until the work he is doing today (a recent NPR webcast of Konitz with Dan Tepfer and Matt Wilson at the Village Vanguard is some of the most creative music I have ever heard), Lee has such a distinctive and recognizable tone and voice, yet has always remained at the forefront of new developments in jazz. Throughout his musical career, Lee Konitz can only be described as one thing: himself.

Jessica Carlton - Occasionally when listening to someone play jazz or improvise a solo, there is a moment when they play a line that is so innovative, creative and beautiful that you feel as though they were speaking directly to you. When a player is great, moments like that occur regularly and you can listen to a solo and feel completely overwhelmed by greatness. And then there are those players who, when listening to them play, you can feel exactly what they feel and be both utterly confused and completely amazed by it. Not a moment goes by when they play that is not developing or shaping jazz and improvisation in some way. Lee Konitz is one of the few.

Michael Curran - Lee was there at the birth of the cool. Was he the daddy, well who really knows...but it sure looked that way. He gave that baby all the heart and style he had 'til it was bursting at the seams coming to a slow swinging boil, but all the while wrapping you smooth as silk in an inky liquid velvet embrace. He'd drag those lines, long melodic lines 'til they danced in your head and wouldn't sit down. Later he'd change track, get a little avant garde and then some, improv his way around the notes like a man looking for boundaries to cross, all the while blowing clean air through the fog, cutting away the floss, leaving a cool crisp taste in your ears and a clutch of notes to wrap your brain around. Remarkably he was a good mate of Charlie Parker so its a wonder Lee's still here and ain't we lucky, the man's a living legend, long may he blow...

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• Kurt Rosenwinkel
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