Lennie Tristano

American jazz pianist, composer and teacher (1919–1978). Blind from childhood, a pioneer of tape/overdubbing experiments and early free-improvisation; influential mentor to Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh and others.

Born 1919 in Chicago to Italian parents from Aversa; recorded landmark free-improvisation pieces (e.g. 'Intuition' recorded 1949); innovated tape manipulation/overdubbing on the 1956 album 'Lennie Tristano'; withdrew increasingly into teaching in later decades; suffered a stroke in 1978.

DeBaser's reviews celebrate Lennie Tristano as an influential, iconoclastic pianist and teacher. Reviewers highlight his early free-improvisation experiments, pioneering tape/overdubbing techniques, and his stubborn, uncompromising personality. Key albums discussed include Lennie Tristano, Descent Into the Maelstrom and Crosscurrents. The general verdict: challenging, groundbreaking, essential for serious listeners.

For:Listeners interested in jazz innovation, students of improvisation, fans of cool/avant-garde jazz, music historians