Can you tell me a little bit about studying with Lennie Tristano?
Lee Konitz: Well, as I have said a number of times, that was really a lucky accidental meeting. And we kind of hit it off immediately. I just accepted him as a big brother somehow, and he gave me permission to create music and study the great soloists and learn their music and things like that, that I didn’t quite know about. I was already a noodler, so I’m sure he picked that up. Q: I read somewhere that he described music to you as life force. Lee Konitz: He didn’t get into mythology and all kinds of fancy religious terms. He was very straight ahead. And I appreciated that communication very much. I was intimidated by it very often, especially when he invited me to play in his band. You know, I thought, “My goodness. That’s the ideal situation.” I was always pleased over the years because I was first picked out as a different sound than Charlie Parker. But through the years I continue to try to play the sound that I’m hearing, and it changes quite a bit. And people say, “Oh, I can st
