Lennie Niehaus (born 11 June 1929) is an American alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer on the West Coast jazz scene. He has played with the Stan Kenton big band, and various other jazz bands on the West Coast of the U.S. Niehaus has arranged and composed for motion pictures, including several produced by Clint Eastwood.
Niehaus was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Lennie’s sister was a concert pianist and his father was an expert violinist. ...
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Lennie Niehaus (born 11 June 1929) is an American alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer on the West Coast jazz scene. He has played with the Stan Kenton big band, and various other jazz bands on the West Coast of the U.S. Niehaus has arranged and composed for motion pictures, including several produced by Clint Eastwood.
Niehaus was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Lennie’s sister was a concert pianist and his father was an expert violinist. Père Niehaus, his father, started his son on violin at age seven. Lennie then changed instruments to bassoon. When he turned thirteen, he began learning alto saxophone and clarinet. Niehaus was always interested in composing and wrote music as a young teenager. In 1946, while still studying music at college, Lennie started his professional career, along with reedmen Herb Geller, Herbie Steward and Teddy Edwards. He went with the Stan Kenton orchestra for six months. However, he was drafted into the army in 1952. Discharged in 1954, he rejoined...
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