Lee Konitz on Lester Young (excerpt)

[@johnmckenna4162]

Wow! Great hearing Lee Konitz talk about Prez! One great master to another, right?! Awesome & beautifully said by Lee. Miss hearing him also... RIP Lee Konitz

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

That first Prez solo was performed as a head, ‘Pound Cake’ by various musicians influenced by Tristano. Lee and Warne performed it as ‘Blues by Lester’ on the Jazz Exchange tour of 1975z

[@wesm65]

Thanks - great to see the influence Lester had on the next generation of players.

[@nicholasvipond2205]

Absolutely wonderful.

[@yeniarivarola]

Gracias

[@ChasinTranes]

What Lester Young solo is he listening to at the end up the clip ("what more can you ask for?") ?

[@BebopHardRock]

Twelfth Street Rag, with Count Basie.

[@Mau.arceri]

is twelfth street rag

[@gregoryphillips760]

0:20 - "Made it respectable"??? This interview reeks of arrogance!! For Konitz to make these comments means he truly didn't understand the music, kinda like reciting words from another language but not really understanding the meaning of those words. Is this how a lot of Jazz musicians felt? They had no problem copying the style but instead of admitting the incredible genius that created it, can only give backhanded tributes to it. What Lester did was raise the swing to another level that no one else has ever been able to duplicate. I suggest that Kontz view the Ken Burns documentary on Jazz.

[@GloucesterWriters]

Dear Gregory, I think that the last part of Lee's statement has far greater gravitas. "Lester stood up and it became art." During my short time interacting with Lee there was only openness and honesty and not lick of arrogance. If you are interested you you listen to more Lee and read Andy Hamilton's book " Lee Konitz: Conversations on the Improviser's Art."

[@gregoryphillips760]

@@GloucesterWriters , So if this wasn't "Art" before Lester, then what was it?

[@kevinmiller124]

suggesting that Lee Konitz needs to watch the Ken Burns documentary is about as ridiculous as saying Bach needs to take a high school counterpoint class.

[@caiovaz3812]

Suggest Lee to learn somethibg bout jazz? Cmon asshole, first of all Lee died few time ago by covid, second he was the first alto that wasnt a Bird copycat, three he was into Birth of Cool Miles at 49 50. Show some RESPECT for one of the master! Lester -that i have a tattoo on my arm- , Konitz, Miles, all of them were equaly masters

[@nedbates]

@@gregoryphillips760 Before Lester it was simply an effort to pack more swingers, dancers, soldiers on leave, and anyone else into the dance halls than the next band to pay their admission for jitterbugging, and not necessarily for ANY artistic appreciation. THAT is the difference. And there is no arrogance in differentiating between such overt and necessary commercialism (to pay their musician and sustain their tours) versus overt and Prez's uniquely personal artistic creativity, which became a commodity in itself, but for the opposite of dancing---for just sitting and digging!