A rare Lester Young performance of "Mean To Me" on "Art Ford's Jazz Party", September 25, 1958. Broadcast by Danmarks Radio. Sound portion originally released as Enigma 301.
My grandfather was a jazz musician and Lester Young was his hero. My grandfather had a photo of my father as a baby that was actually signed by Prez, wishing him a happy life. He had it in his wallet until the day he died. My mom gave it to me and I still have it to this day.
Lester was one of the fathers of modern slang! He was responsible for coining many phrases we've used over the years("you dig/ you understand" & "bread/money")! At 1:04 & 1:08 he was saying to the drummer, "A little TINKTY-BOOM" to get him(the drummer) to swing more! Just say "tinkty-boom" repeatedly along with the track & you'll see what I mean! Prez not only had the right notes but the right picturesque slang to desciribe what was going on and/or was needed to set things off!!
He was in a club to hear a musician that he admired. A group of young jazz musicians saw him and were all over him, heaping praise. When they were interfering with his enjoyment of the show he said to them: "I can't dig while I'm being dug."
According to credits listed on another page (ua-cam.com/video/ZM1DUXDm7o4/v-deo.html), the front line consists of Charlie Shavers - trumpet and (and, apparently, leader), J.C.Higginbotham - trombone, Pee Wee Russell - clarinet, Coleman Hawkins & Lester Young - tenor sax. I notice at least one additional trumpet and trombone, have nothing to offer in their case. In other clips I saw a different clarinetist (and another trumpet) - seems to me this must have been a full 16-piece big band. In any case, it's the only time I have had the opportunity to hear Hawkins and Young trading fours (ua-cam.com/video/0kUQF_iqYQ0/v-deo.html) - priceless! Rhythm section is Willie "The Lion" Smith - piano (almost didn't recognize him without his cigar), Harry Sheppard - vibes, Dick Thompson - guitar, Vinnie Burke - bass, Sonny Greer - drums.
once he gets the drummer to find the damn pocket...Pres just swings right up the mountainside and over the top...and around 2:50...if had to define "swing", I would play that last series of riffs for the unenlightened...a few moments of rare beauty, power, and sly mastery caught forever...says there are 263,148 views at this time...and about 1000 of them are ME...thanks!
His proverbial sense of time, his interaction with the rhythm section, his way of "talking" through the horn. Jazz is a conversation. Many current musicians may be technically impeccable, but they miss this crucial point. Lester's about burning fire, not fireworks!
Amazing. Had never seen this before. I am surprised he played this strong in 1958. On the "Sound of Jazz" show he looked so frail. Gives us a feeling of what it must have been like hearing him on a club date with Count Basie with Lester's tenor soaring over one of the best bands there ever was.
My God, Lester Young literally reinvented the tenor saxophone. Before Prez came along, the way to play the tenor sax was the way Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster played tenor. But Prez played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies that influenced every saxophonist that came after him, from Charlie Parker to John Coltrane. Rest In Peace Prez 🙏🏾🎷
Featured in the band : Charlie Shavers (leader, and trumpet), J.C. Higginbotham (trombone), Pee Wee Russell (clarinet), Willie the Lion Smith (piano), Dickie Thompson (guitar), Harry Sheppard (vibraphone), Vinnie Burke (bass), Sonny Greer (drums-formerly of Duke Ellington’s band), and Mae Barnes (singer).
Lester Young's music was overshadowed by nonessential musical accompaniment. Back in those days, a Black man or woman's music HAD to include white musicians otherwise exposure was nonexistent. I noticed how the cameraman did a closeup on Lester but in the background, the white guitarist was more prominent. It is a true shame to not hear 100% of the true essence of Black music from those times. It is rare with yesterdays' record companies to not exploit superior Black musicians as we have a few examples of John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, etc.
Pee Wee Russell and Les on the same stage. Two musicians who basically had the same approach to ballad playing (they also shared the same taste for beverages). Is there a FULL recording of this concert? Or does anybody know if they ever played together on records? I have not found any.
When I lived in NYC in the 90’s there was an annual Lester Young Memorial Concert at the jazz church on 52nd street. Coltrane gets perks for putting religiosity front and center in his playing, but Prez, especially frail Prez, has always spoke to me more directly.
Remember seeing Willie & also Earl Hines on Johnny Carson when a child '60s. He loved and promoted jazz every opportunity. And I thank him for educating me.
He wasn't a alcoholic He used alcohol and cannabis as tools for connecting with people He died as he gave all his love without wanting anything in return
Have listened to a lot of great sax players live Like Stan Getz etc Lester died before I was a teenager , he is my all time favorite though What a great musician and died way too young.
Lester Young wasn't only an amazing musician, he lit the rockets of the 20th Century US counterculture when he turned on Kerouac all the way back in 1943.
i know what he said , he wants the drummer to cool it. this is a song he's played hunderds of times. a little tinkety boom, a little tinketty boom one stick. he hated loud drummers when he play'ed.
@anicetocecchetti i'm fairly certain he's admonishing the drummer for to many bomb drops. he's asking for some "tinky boom" which is lesterease for simple light time. not sure just what i was able to get out of it.
My grandfather was a jazz musician and Lester Young was his hero. My grandfather had a photo of my father as a baby that was actually signed by Prez, wishing him a happy life. He had it in his wallet until the day he died. My mom gave it to me and I still have it to this day.
Very moving. The art of jazz.
I dug the head-riff in the last chorus - it couldn't have been arranged better -
Long Live Lester Young -
BRILLIANT .He was an inovator
this music makes me happy!
Every solo a song. Prez. In subsequent eras of ‘sheets of sound’ and rabble-rousing, Prez keeps us honest.
Lester was one of the fathers of modern slang! He was responsible for coining many phrases we've used over the years("you dig/ you understand" & "bread/money")! At 1:04 & 1:08 he was saying to the drummer, "A little TINKTY-BOOM" to get him(the drummer) to swing more! Just say "tinkty-boom" repeatedly along with the track & you'll see what I mean! Prez not only had the right notes but the right picturesque slang to desciribe what was going on and/or was needed to set things off!!
JCsaxophile Prez invented hip/jazz slang, he was the man. his girl was Billie
Another musician who invented a lot of hipster slang was Cab Calloway!
He was in a club to hear a musician that he admired. A group of young jazz musicians saw him and were all over him, heaping praise. When they were interfering with his enjoyment of the show he said to them: "I can't dig while I'm being dug."
Definitely started swinging a lot more after that instruction. Then when the horn chorus came in...dynamite.
THE WORD GIG WAS MY UNCLE LESTER'S INVINTION
Happy birthday, President!
Grande grande sax grazie
Look at Charlie Shavers walk over to tell the drummer what is "tinkety-boom"
GEM
Thanks for sharing :-))
@anicetocecchetti He said to the drummer^ A little tinky-boom"...
Can anyone tell me the rest of the members of the band?
Thank you !!!
According to credits listed on another page
(ua-cam.com/video/ZM1DUXDm7o4/v-deo.html), the front line consists of Charlie Shavers - trumpet and (and, apparently, leader), J.C.Higginbotham - trombone, Pee Wee Russell - clarinet, Coleman Hawkins & Lester Young - tenor sax. I notice at least one additional trumpet and trombone, have nothing to offer in their case. In other clips I saw a different clarinetist (and another trumpet) - seems to me this must have been a full 16-piece big band. In any case, it's the only time I have had the opportunity to hear Hawkins and Young trading fours (ua-cam.com/video/0kUQF_iqYQ0/v-deo.html) - priceless! Rhythm section is Willie "The Lion" Smith - piano (almost didn't recognize him without his cigar), Harry Sheppard - vibes, Dick Thompson - guitar, Vinnie Burke - bass, Sonny Greer - drums.
that face
when listening to this recording one can hear where Stan Getz and Dexter Gordon learned to improvise
It's like what Dizzy said about Armstrong -- "no him, no me."
And for sure they learned it well!
I hear his influence in Charlie Parker's playing too...
i don't know how many times i've listened to this but never ceases to move me; it's a blessing that it exists. thank yo for posting
What a clip.
Probably the best there is of Lester Young?
Can easily move a grown man to tears.
It does indeed
“Tinkty Boom” = “change from brushes to sticks, drummer Sonny Greer” (formerly of Duke Ellington’s band) in Prez-speak.
"a little ticky boom-one stick,ya dig".You hear the accentuations then with the stick on the snare.IMO
“Tinkly-Boom”. Got the message across short and sweetly. That’s pure Lester!
once he gets the drummer to find the damn pocket...Pres just swings right up the mountainside and over the top...and around 2:50...if had to define "swing", I would play that last series of riffs for the unenlightened...a few moments of rare beauty, power, and sly mastery caught forever...says there are 263,148 views at this time...and about 1000 of them are ME...thanks!
about six months left to live and playing like god on earth
His proverbial sense of time, his interaction with the rhythm section, his way of "talking" through the horn. Jazz is a conversation. Many current musicians may be technically impeccable, but they miss this crucial point. Lester's about burning fire, not fireworks!
The smoothness just pours from this man. He was the coolest cat to ever exist. Thanks for existing lester....
listed to this song day for months. just heard it again after not hearing it for a few months and it make my hair stand on end all over again
Lester Young-The President of the Sax
Amazing. Had never seen this before. I am surprised he played this strong in 1958. On the "Sound of Jazz" show he looked so frail.
Gives us a feeling of what it must have been like hearing him on a club date with Count Basie with Lester's tenor soaring over one of the best bands there ever was.
arguably the world most soulful performance
Missed his born day by one day. Today is Aug. 28, 2019. Lester and Billie recorded this song in 1937. It's a classic.
Priceless clip. What an amazing soloist. He says so much with every note. Just too cool.
My God, Lester Young literally reinvented the tenor saxophone. Before Prez came along, the way to play the tenor sax was the way Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster played tenor. But Prez played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies that influenced every saxophonist that came after him, from Charlie Parker to John Coltrane.
Rest In Peace Prez 🙏🏾🎷
The Basie said Pres was a Stylist and when you're a Stylist you're something else!
Così lieve, così poetico, così dolente, così meravigliosamente elegante. Pres, y love you.
So much freedom with the rhythm, and that's exactly what makes it so, sooooo damn cool to listen. Well, Genius I guess...
' If you don't play like Lester, you're wrong'. A quote from Brew Moore.
Interesting. You could hear Lester in Brew. Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh were both heavily influenced by Prez.
Featured in the band : Charlie Shavers (leader, and trumpet), J.C. Higginbotham (trombone), Pee Wee Russell (clarinet), Willie the Lion Smith (piano), Dickie Thompson (guitar), Harry Sheppard (vibraphone), Vinnie Burke (bass), Sonny Greer (drums-formerly of Duke Ellington’s band), and Mae Barnes (singer).
Wow! Great piece of history here. Thank you!
"Chicky boom-one stick, dig it".We have had many presidents -only on Prez.
The drummer didnt get it though.. Shavers had to go and tell him..
Lester Young's music was overshadowed by nonessential musical accompaniment. Back in those days, a Black man or woman's music HAD to include white musicians otherwise exposure was nonexistent. I noticed how the cameraman did a closeup on Lester but in the background, the white guitarist was more prominent.
It is a true shame to not hear 100% of the true essence of Black music from those times. It is rare with yesterdays' record companies to not exploit superior Black musicians as we have a few examples of John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, etc.
Pee Wee Russell and Les on the same stage. Two musicians who basically had the same approach to ballad playing (they also shared the same taste for beverages). Is there a FULL recording of this concert? Or does anybody know if they ever played together on records? I have not found any.
Sonny Rollins said Lester invented cool.
Happy Happy 110th Birthday Prez! You are so missed! The best of the sax players! Man you are missed and you sure could blown that horn!!!!
Pure magic!!...I would loved to have heard a pairing of Prez and Pee Wee Russell, two of the greatests poets of jazz.
Chu Berry
The president of the Sax nation will blow forever!!!! Blow, Pres, Blow!!
When I lived in NYC in the 90’s there was an annual Lester Young Memorial Concert at the jazz church on 52nd street. Coltrane gets perks for putting religiosity front and center in his playing, but Prez, especially frail Prez, has always spoke to me more directly.
Devine Thank You
Great melodic lines he displays, and very good command of his instrument.
So cool...too cool for school, daddy-o's !
On piano, the one and only Willie "The Lion" Smith!
Remember seeing Willie & also Earl Hines on Johnny Carson when a child '60s. He loved and promoted jazz every opportunity. And I thank him for educating me.
Tragically, Lester was dead not quite 6 months after this amazing performance....
This is about a year before Lester's sad death @49 yrs from alcoholism. When you know this, you can tell how aged he had become from his illness.
He wasn't a alcoholic
He used alcohol and cannabis as tools for connecting with people
He died as he gave all his love without wanting anything in return
The Jazz Gold Era. Beautiful 👌
elegancia...respeto...y sincera alegría.Thanks and keep shining.
more feeling in a moment than most music has in hours.
Yeah, Cary
In just 6 months, March 15, 1959, Lester would die. This is probably the last video or film of the President.
A true artist for sure
Have listened to a lot of great sax players live Like Stan Getz etc
Lester died before I was a teenager , he is my all time favorite though
What a great musician and died way too young.
Uno de los más grandes saxofonista de la historia del jazz y con eso poco más puedo añadir
さすがの貫禄。
Eiichi Ohmori
From Akihabara Tokyo Japan
The "Pres" 💯🎷
Nikt nie będzie grał jak Prez 😅❤😂
WOW THIS IS A MUST SEE
One can see Lester growing from chorus to chorus!
Nice eyes Pres.
Ren guld!
Lester Young wasn't only an amazing musician, he lit the rockets of the 20th Century US counterculture when he turned on Kerouac all the way back in 1943.
When I was a young college student I was told that I wasn't " well read", so I read their books including On The Road, what a steaming pile of turd.
Lester Young , I love you!
he shaped the notes like no other
Well, today is Aug.23.2022 Happy early-born day Pres. Lester, in those 3 short minutes let the world see why he is a saxophone immortal.
Wonderful, many thanks! Pee Wee Russell on clarinet.
Just Les inventing new melodies again. He was the man...
This is the only and one Prez !
Thousands of stars.
xF
the goat
The Cat
Oh man the Prez. There'll never be another.
One of the greatest sax players, among the greatests.
i know what he said , he wants the drummer to cool it. this is a song he's played hunderds of times. a little tinkety boom, a little tinketty boom one stick. he hated loud drummers when he play'ed.
@mikelz777 I think you're right: after that, the drummer leaves brushes and switches on sticks.
Contrary to some Lester and Billie were still great even late.
The best saxophone player of all time.
Yes, indeed
@frederikolsen So, thanks Dad! :-)
Tell him that this is one of the most important jazz videos on earth!
On the guitar, the late, great Dickie Thompson!
Lester swingin' like crazy
excellent!!!! (it's too bad - Art Ford should have had him do like, four or five other tunes)
No .momento Lester é minha maior incidência
Thanks for posting.
Le meilleur cela nous prend au coeur comme lui seul sait le faire
Geniusz Lester a Lady Day go kochała 😊😅❤❤
Amazing piece of music by all measures
Prez i Lady Day wypełniali się cudownie
many thanks
Legends.....🎼❤️
Prez & Coleman Hawkins...the gold standard of the saxophone!!
이런 흑백 티비에서 나오는 재즈 넘 좋음...
And look who is singing'" Papapeda" in the backround at the ending with the trumpets and trombones.!
No. He said we're all doomed.
I love the little intro. to this by the announcer (?)... Says it all...
That was Basie from a separate interview.
Great!!! Many thanks for that!
Anybody know who the guitar player is?
Just found out it's Dickie Thompson
Lester the best and the better
@anicetocecchetti i'm fairly certain he's admonishing the drummer for to many bomb drops. he's asking for some "tinky boom" which is lesterease for simple light time. not sure just what i was able to get out of it.