PRACTICE PORTAL

Takes 3 and 4 of “Exercise In Swing” from THE COMPLETE SAVOY RECORDINGS… Lester Young was such an amazing improviser. These takes and the ones in the previous post are the same in that they are pristine miniatures of his seemingly effortless melodicism. But each has a slightly different quality. Take note of the rhythmic variety between and within each take. How Young at times floats over, then at other times digs into the groove, sitting firmly in the bull’s eye center of the beat. His emphasis on certain parts of the beat has an incredible effect on the mood of the music…

LESTER YOUNG- EXERCISE IN SWING TAKE 3 (mp3)

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LESTER YOUNG- EXERCISE IN SWING TAKE 4 (mp3)

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These two solos are from a Lester Young compilation called THE COMPLETE SAVOY RECORDINGS. They are two takes of a variation on rhythm changes…

LESTER YOUNG- EXERCISE IN SWING TAKE 1 (mp3)

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LESTER YOUNG- EXERCISE IN SWING TAKE 2 (mp3)

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LESTER YOUNG- ALL OF ME (mp3)

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Lester Young delivers a beautiful solo on “Ad Lib Blues”, an original by himself and Oscar Peterson, and the first song from the classic recording, LESTER YOUNG WITH THE OSCAR PETERSON TRIO. Young is supported by Peterson on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Ray Brown on bass and drummer J.C. Heard. The song begins with a four bar break from Young followed by his seven chorus solo. The record was recorded in 1952, during the time when it was generally thought that Young’s powers as an improviser were waning. He’s in great form here though, with the warm, gauzy tone, the relaxed delivery and the great rhythmic instinct all in evidence. the rhythm section provides a very danceable 4 beat chug that Young rides closely through most of his blowing, sprinkling some triplet figure seasoning here and there…

LESTER YOUNG- AD LIB BLUES (mp3)

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As the U.S. and the world awaits the new stimulus package from Obama and the legislature, i thought i would consult the wisdom of another head of state to see what he had to say. Lester Young’s thoughts might not do much for the economy but they will most definitely stimulate the mind of anyone who cares to listen. these three sides are all variations on rhythm changes, and on them, Young displays his control, finesse, incredible rhythmic sense and that SOUND. each of these sides feature an overt, bouncing beat with a really prominent 4 feel. it’s too bad that jazz isn’t much considered as dance music anymore. playing for dancers profoundly effects how a band and a soloist feels the beat, and seeing music expressed physically in dance, its artistic sibling, is a sensation that musicians should endeavor to experience as often as possible. the musicians on these sides: Count Basie, Jo Jones, Walter Page, Freddie Green and Dickie Wells, to name a few, collaborate towards evoking an infectious and elegant swing.

the saxophone is capable of such a broad range of expression; in the hands a of a master it can attain the level of our innate instrument, the human voice. nowadays there is much talk of the immanent fusion of man and machine, of technology becoming so fast and complex as to be able to smoothly interface with the processes of the human mind and body. well, Prez was there, way back when. in his hands, the saxophone became a flesh and blood appendage; he was definitely one with his horn. hearing guys who’ve reached that level- Bird, Miles, Trane, Monk, Mingus… is, in a word, stimulating. these solos won’t pay your bills but they’re likely to bring a smile to your face. check ‘em out…

LESTER YOUNG- “SHOESHINE BOY” (mp3)

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LESTER YOUNG- “LESTER LEAPS IN” (mp3)

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LESTER YOUNG- “I GOT RHYTHM” (mp3)

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