Watch: THE IMPROVISER – Lee Konitz in conversation with Jørgen Leth (Official Short Documentary)

Directed and edited by Andreas Koefoed

In memory of Lee Konitz (1927-2020)

Lee Konitz was an alto saxophonist with an unparalleled career in the history of American jazz and improvised music. Born in Chicago and living most of his life in New York, Konitz appeared with Miles Davis and Gerry Mulligan on The Birth of the Cool in 1949 and leaves behind an impressive oeuvre spanning eight different decades.

In 2008 Konitz met guitarist Jakob Bro with Paul Motian at the recording session for Balladeering at Avatar Studios. Also present in the studio were Danish filmmakers Andreas Koefoed and Jørgen Leth – the latter also a poet, art film director and former jazz critic, deeply informed by Lee Konitz’ style of playing and major position in the jazz scene.

In the following years Koefoed and Leth recorded Lee Konitz on multiple occasions on tour to Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway and Denmark, in his home in New York City and in the studio with Jakob Bro, Bill Frisell, Craig Taborn, Thomas Morgan a.o. for what later would become the ensemble cast music feature film “Music For Black Pigeons”. The title was originally coined by Lee Konitz as a description of his common work with Jakob Bro.

The scenes in this new mini-documentary come from many years of filming Lee Konitz for “Music For Black Pigeons”. We get to see Lee Konitz in conversation with Jørgen Leth about his relationship with Lennie Tristano and Charlie Parker, recording sessions from Avatar Studios and life around his home city.

Lee Konitz’ fourth album with Jakob Bro, Taking Turns is released (29.11.2024) by ECM Records.

Credits “THE IMPROVISER – Lee Konitz in conversation with Jørgen Leth”

Directed and edited by Andreas Koefoed
Narration by Jørgen Leth

Cinematography: Dan Holmberg, Adam Jandrup, Emile Péronard, Sune Blicher, Arseni Khachaturan, Andreas Koefoed.
Sound Design: Jacques Pedersen

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