[Dixielandjazz] Who Influenced Lester Young?

[Marek Boym]

Hi,
I was hoping for at least one video - all the links are to records I have.
Cheers

On 10/05/2010, Stephen G Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> On May 9, 2010, at 5:19 PM, Marek Boym wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > This is a well known story.
> > Nevertheless, I am always happy to re-read a black jazz giant praising
> > my all-time favourite tenor player.
> >
> > But close listening seems to indicate another source as well: the
> > Creole clarinet players.  This is more conspicuous in Young's clarinet
> > playing, but is reflected in his tenor sax playing as well.
> > Cheers
> >
> > On 9 May 2010 17:08, Stephen G Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
> wrote:
> >
> > > From an interview with Nat Hentoff of Downbeat 3/7/56. Pres talks about
> his
> > > influencers and then gives some advice to aspiring players.
> > >
> > >
> > > "I've been playing music ever since I was 10. I started on the drums,
> but it
> > > was too much trouble to carry the traps. So I switched to alto. Frankie
> > > Trumbauer and Jimmy Dorsey were battling for honors in those days, and I
> > > finally found out that I liked Trumbauer. Trumbauer was my idol. When I
> had
> > > just started to play, I used to buy all his records. I imagine I can
> still
> > > play all those solos off the record. He played the C melody saxophone. I
> > > tried to get the sound of a C melody on a tenor. That's why I don't
> sound
> > > like other people. Trumbauer always told a little story. And I liked the
> way
> > > he slurred the notes. He'd play the melody first and then after that,
> he'd
> > > play around the melody. I did like Bud Freeman very much. Nobody played
> like
> > > him. That's what knocked me out. I remember when he was with Benny
> Goodman."
> > > . . . . .
> > >
> > > Advice To Young Musicians: "A musician should know the lyrics of the
> songs
> > > he plays, too. That completes it. Then you can go for yourself and you
> know
> > > what you're doing. A lot of musicians that play nowadays don't know the
> > > lyrics of the songs. That way they're just playing the changes. That's
> why I
> > > like records by singers when I'm listening at home. I pick up the words
> > > right from there."
> > >
> > > Conclusions: "I think they'll all be finally coming back to swinging and
> to
> > > dancing to music again. A lot of the things now are just novelties. For
> me,
> > > the music has to swing first."
> > >
> >
>
> Yes, it is an old story, the actual interview was over 50 years ago. I
> figured folks might want to hear it originating from Pres's mouth rather
> than reading what someone else tells them. <grin>
>
> Not sure I agree that Pres's Clarinet or Saxophone is influenced much by the
> early Creole reedmen. Seems to my ears he had his own voice, on both Tenor
> and Clarinet. He was to me, much more of an original player, who after his
> early influences (Trumbauer) went his own way. To hear him in 1938 on
> clarinet go to:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPc1gjkJD4Y
>
> or later in 1958 about a year before his passing. He's a bit rusty here.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qQMu1JPUWY&feature=player_embedded
>
> His clarinet has the same breathiness as his Tenor. IMO, his way of
> communicating.
>
> One of my favorite Pres records is below. These Foolish Things, where my
> early mentor, Hank D'Amico can be heard on clarinet. D'Amico live a couple
> of blocks from me in NYC and really sparked my interest in jazz. (I also
> dated one of his daughters).
>
> Billy Butterfield is also on this cut + Johnny Guarnieri, Cozy Cole et al..
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w5PekfV4dY
>
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
>
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