Lester Young in Books, a Paris Recording, and a Museum Exhibit

Known as President of the Tenor Saxophone, Lester Young was one of the most influential tenor saxophonists of the Twentieth Century, according to scholar and educator Douglas Henry Daniels, who wrote the most definitive biography of Lester Young.

In his book, Lester Leaps In:  The Life and Times of Lester “Prez” Young, Daniels points out that Young’s music style was unique and Young was an individualist, always experimenting.  Daniels also informs readers that Young was a gifted musician, a superior musician, and that although he was a colorful character, he was actually a gentle, sensitive artist.  At times he was also aloof and elusive.

 

There's a jazz poem “Lester Leaps In” (from a book titled Something About the Blues, by American poet Al Young ) that speaks to saxophonist Lester Young’s personality.  It says:

Here lived a man so hard and softspoken/ he had to be cool enough to hold his horn/ at angles as sharp as he was heartbroken/ in order to blow what it's like to be born.                                                                                                 
The poet probably named his poem “Lester Leaps In” after Lester Young’s original jazz music standard of the same title.

According to another Al Young poem, “Prez in Paris, 1959,” saxophonist Lester Young had moved to Paris by 1959, when his health was poor.  He recorded the album “Lester Young in Paris” at Barclay Studios, on March 4, 1959.  He died the next morning.

A portrait of Lester Young is included in the American Cool Exhibit currently on display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.  Lester Young was considered to have been one of those major American talents to have ushered in the concept of certain persons being “cool.” The exhibit will be on display until September 7, 2014.
 

Thinking about Dexter Gordon on His Birthday

American tenor saxophonist and actor Dexter Gordon was born on this day in 1923.  He left us on April 25, 1990.

During Dexter Gordon's 40-year studio and performance career--15 of which he lived in Europe, mainly in Paris and Copenhagen, playing with visiting and expatriate musicians-- he accomplished much.  There's a wealth of information about him at the Dexter Gordon web site among other places.  But today I was thinking about Gordon mainly in connection with two things:  (1) his ability as an actor and (2) the jazz poems out there about him. 

With regard to his acting, Dexter Gordon did a good job playing the character Dale Turner in the movie Round Midnight.  Many movie goers and jazz lovers will remember that in the movie, Dale Turner is a musician losing his battle with alcoholism.  Gordon received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Turner.

When I consider jazz poems about Dexter Gordon, one that readily comes to mind is February in Sidney, by Yusef Komunyakaa.  I'll quote four lines of the 31-line poem here.

Dexter Gordon's tenor sax
plays "April in Paris"
inside my head all the way back
on the bus from Double Bay.

February in Sidney goes on to mention Round Midnight, the '50s, cool cobblestone streets, and Bebop musicians such as Bud Powell, Lester Young, Ben Webster, and others.  The poem also talks about the pain and dark side of some Bebop musicians' lives during that time.

I'll note here that American poet Al Young has also written some jazz poems that mention specific musicians, including Dexter Gordon.  I think I'll check out a couple of them now.