Leon "Lee" Konitz was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jazz movement of the 1940s and 1950s includes participation in Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool sessions and his work with pianist Lennie Tristano. He was one of relatively few alto saxophonists of this era to retain a distinctive style, when Charlie Parker exerted a massive influence. Like other students of Tristano, Konitz improvised long, melodic lines with the rhythmic interest coming from odd accents, or odd note groupings suggestive of the imposition of one time signature over another. Other saxophonists were strongly influenced by Konitz, such as Paul Desmond and Art Pepper.

Konitz contributed to the film score for Desperate Characters in 1971. In 1981, he performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival, which was held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio.

Konitz worked with Warne Marsh, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Attila Zoller, Gerry Mulligan, and Elvin Jones. He recorded trio dates with Brad Mehldau and Charlie Haden, released by Blue Note, as well as a live album recorded in 2009 at Birdland and released by ECM in 2011, with drummer Paul Motian. Konitz became more experimental as he grew older and released a number of free jazz and avant-garde jazz albums, performing with many younger musicians. He soloed on Elvis Costello's song "Someone Took The Words Away" in 2003, and his album with saxophonist/vocalist Grace Kelly was given 4 1/2 stars by Michael Jackson in Down Beat magazine.

"We're going to play standards like you've never heard them before, I hope" (Lee Konitz).

Lee Konitz starts out on his own, a little hesitant. At his age, 87, he needs to warm up. Then the rhythm plays on velvet. She advances at a Persian cat pace. A real caress for the soul. Very fine work of the beater with the brooms. Dan just plays the right notes. The double bass purrs in the center of the stage. The Konitz method: very quickly, he escapes the melody taking us into the ocean of his thoughts ...

Cast: Lee Konix (Saxophone), Georges Schuller (Drums), Jeremy Stratton (Bass)