Jazz's Subdued Dynamo: Lee Konitz

OF THE FEW remaining living jazz legends who emerged during the height of bebop, Lee Konitz often gets slighted. Perhaps that's because his pioneering work on the alto saxophone seemed mellow beside the blistering improvisations spearheaded by Charlie Parker. In fact, Konitz's less volatile but no less inventive approach helped usher in jazz's West Coast cool sound and later Third Stream period.

With more than 100 recordings under his belt, the 81-year-old Konitz continues to push the envelope. Last year, he recorded "Deep Lee" with the young piano trio Minsarah (Florian Weber, Jeff Denson and Ziv Ravitz). That same year, he also teamed up with 16-year-old wunderkind Grace Kelly on "Gracefullee," helping to counter the notion that attractive female saxophonists can release albums without lamentable play on the word "sax."

And this year, Konitz teams up with a remarkable musician young enough to be his great-grandchild, French pianist Dan Tepfer. Their recording, "Duets With Lee," has Konitz engaging with Tepfer in revelatory, often beautiful, spur-of-the-moment compositions.

Thursday night at Blues Alley, Konitz reunites with Minsarah, solidifying his legacy as one of jazz's most intriguing saxophonists and proving to the world that he's still agile in mind, body and spirit.