Lenny Popkin

Popkin was born on May 30, 1941, in New York.^[1][2][3][4] He initially studied violin, switching to saxophone in his teens.^[4] He attended Lennox School of Jazz in 1959, and Brandeis University,^[1][4] where he obtained Bachelor of Arts (1963), and Master of Fine Arts (1966) degrees.^[4]

Popkin studied with Lennie Tristano in the 1960s, joining his quartet in 1968.^[4]

Following Tristano's death in 1978, Popkin co-produced, along with Connie Crothers, the Lennie Tristano Memorial Concert at Town Hall, New York, and co-founded the Lennie Tristano Jazz Foundation.

Popkin is married to Lennie Tristano's daughter, drummer Carol Tristano, who is a regular member of his trios.^[5][6] He has recorded at least sixteen albums, frequently with Connie Crothers on piano until her death in 2016. He co-founded New Artists record label with Crothers.^[4]

• 1959. The Lenox Jazz School Concert-August 29, 1959, FreeFactory 064
• 1979. Falling Free, Choice 1027
• 1979. Lennie Tristano Memorial Concert, Jazz Records 3
• 1984. True Fun, Jazz Records 7 (with Eddie Gomez and Liz Gorrill)
• 1988. Love Energy, New Artists 1005 (with Connie Crothers)
• 1989. New York Night, New Artists 1008 (with Connie Crothers)
• 1989. In Motion, New Artists 1013 (with Connie Crothers)
• 1993. Jazz Spring, New Artists 1017 (with Connie Crothers)
• 1997. Session, New Artists 1027 (with Connie Crothers)
• 1997. Lenny Popkin, LifeLine Records 101
• 2004. New York Moment, LifeLine/Paris Jazz Corner Productions 982 941-9 (with Eddie Gomez, Carol Tristano)
• 2007. Belleville, Cristal Records 0714 (with Gilles Naturel)
• 2010. 317 East 32nd, Candid Records 71027
• 2011. Live at Inntöne Festival, PAO Records 11160
• 2012. Time Set, Paris Jazz Corner Productions/LifeLine 103
• 2023. Sax Section LifeLine Records LR 105 CD.

Main sources^{[1][2][3][4][7]}