Lee Konitz was born on October 13, 1927 in Chicago. Aged 11, Konitz received his first instrument — a clarinet — but later dropped the instrument in favor of the tenor saxophone. He eventually moved from tenor to alto. His greatest influences at the time were the Swing big bands he and his brother listened to on the radio, in particular Benny Goodman. He started his professional career in 1945, and played with all the greats, from Miles Davis to Joe Henderson.
Kenny Wheeler was born on January 14, 1930 in St Catharines, Ontario. He studied trumpet in Toronto and moved to London in 1952. Versatile artist as he was he played free impro in the "Globe Unity Orchestra" of Alexander von Schlippenbach as well as jazz-rock in the "United Jazz & Rock Ensemble". He passed away on September 18, 2014 in London.