When alto saxophonist Lee Konitz began his career in the big bands of the mid-'40s, he deliberately avoided sounding like Johnny Hodges or Benny Carter. By the time Charlie Parker was dominating the scene, Konitz was one of the few alto players with a unique style free of Parker's bebop influence. As a result, he helped birth the more measured cool-jazz sound. Initially making his name in Lennie Tristano's legendary sextet, Konitz soon left to play with Miles Davis, Warne Marsh, and others. Konitz—who died of coronavirus-related complications on April 15, 2020—was always refining his lyrical style. He continued playing into his nineties, performing and collaborating with innovative young musicians like pianist Dan Tepfer, with whom he had a long-standing working relationship.