News & Updates — Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano / March 19, 1919 - Nov 18, 1978
The underrated composer & avant-jazz pioneer Lennie Tristano may not get as much respect as he deserves, but the guy helped bridge bop to free jazz in the late '40's(!). A gifted pianist, the young Tristano, totally blind by age 9, did his first "pro" gigs at 11, playing clarinet in a Chicago whorehouse. He played saxophone and piano in "rumba" bands in the early '40s and was a teacher to future professional collaborators Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. He went to NYC in '46 and started hangin' and playin' with Bird. In '49 his group recorded the first free...