Lennie Tristano, born Leonard Joseph Tristano on March 19, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois, was an influential American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and teacher. Despite being born with weak eyesight and becoming totally blind by the age of nine or ten, Tristano's musical journey began early. He started playing the piano at a very young age and had classical lessons by the age of eight. He studied at the Illinois School for the Blind and later earned a bachelor's degree in music from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago in 1943.

Tristano moved to New York City in 1946, where he became a pivotal figure in the jazz scene. He was known for his advanced concepts of improvisation and harmony, which attracted dedicated followers, including saxophonists Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. His 1949 sextet recordings, featuring tracks like "Wow" and "Crosscurrent," showcased brilliant ensemble melodic interplay and included some of the first free-form collective improvisations in jazz history.

In 1951, Tristano opened a school of jazz, focusing on teaching improvisation in a structured manner. His teaching influenced many jazz musicians, and his role as an educator became a significant aspect of his legacy. Tristano's music, characterized by its harmonic sophistication and rhythmic complexity, was considered an alternative to the prevailing bop idiom, contributing to the development of cool jazz. He was also a pioneer in using overdubbing and tape manipulation in jazz recordings.

Despite his innovations, Tristano's work was not fully appreciated during his lifetime, as his ideas were ahead of their time. He performed and recorded infrequently, with his last public appearance in the United States occurring in 1968. Lennie Tristano passed away on November 18, 1978, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a radical voice in jazz and an influential teacher.