These two minutes of music contain the seeds of bebop (Jo Jones' switch from hi hat to ride) AND rock & roll (Lester's brilliant riffing and one-noting adapted for electric guitar with string bending) and of course his ability to soar above the changes highlighting anything that he deemed worth highlighting on a dime, the essence of true improvisation. Jazz is full of hard acts to follow bur for my money Lester is the hardest, such subtle brilliance makes me want to cry with tears of joy.
You're absolutely right and in fact, as you probably know, the beboppers specifically cited Pres (Bird said "I was crazy about Lester," for ex.) and the r&b cats specifically cited his one note riffing as well as the honking Pres did on other recordings. THANK YOU JIM
Yes Lewis, I knew about Bird's infatuation with Lester (in fact you can hear Pres all over Bird's playing especially his floating handling of rhythm) but I didn't know about the early r&b cats giving credit to Pres. I bought the brilliant Savory Collection from itunes when it came out but this 1938 track is not there, do you know when it can be found? Thank you so much for your wonderful substack, avid reader here.
Thanks Jim. I see that you've subscribed for a year but is it possible that you aren't clear as to what my series is all about? I Only Ever publish information and/or audio that is absolutely available Nowhere else. If it were in the Savory set I would never have published it (unless it as an example for an essay). Where can it be found? ONLY here, nowhere else, and the same is true of everything else here. THANK YOU JIM
Oh no Lewis, you got it wrong, I am fully aware of what this substack is all about and you have my full respect as a musician, academic and jazz historian. My question arose out of musical curiosity and fell into the "example" category, it would be great if we could hear this great performance in its entirety that's all, thanks again for your efforts.
I see--Great--glad to hear it. Unfortunately I did not permission to post the entire track, with the other soloists. I agree, at some point I'd love to share that with you and everyone else. Fingers crossed on that! and THANK YOU AGAIN for your support!
sorry meant love this Lewis. You're doing a good thing
THANKS!
Incredible technique. Even what guitarist was doing at 4 beats to a bar at the tempo,
many of the modern guys couldn't do. Very impressive!
Good point! Thanks Dom!
Fantastic solo - and good analysis....
Thank you, Douglas!
Hi Lewis,
Thanks for this amazing solo. Worth many listens. And also for the links to Loren and Ethan. Cheers.
Thanks, Zan!
This is amazing, thank you!
THANKS EVAN!
https://youtu.be/7sqoFqc91kc
1938! A flatted fifth here and there this would have been bop. Quite brilliant
Absolutely! And he was an inspiration to the young boppers.
These two minutes of music contain the seeds of bebop (Jo Jones' switch from hi hat to ride) AND rock & roll (Lester's brilliant riffing and one-noting adapted for electric guitar with string bending) and of course his ability to soar above the changes highlighting anything that he deemed worth highlighting on a dime, the essence of true improvisation. Jazz is full of hard acts to follow bur for my money Lester is the hardest, such subtle brilliance makes me want to cry with tears of joy.
You're absolutely right and in fact, as you probably know, the beboppers specifically cited Pres (Bird said "I was crazy about Lester," for ex.) and the r&b cats specifically cited his one note riffing as well as the honking Pres did on other recordings. THANK YOU JIM
Yes Lewis, I knew about Bird's infatuation with Lester (in fact you can hear Pres all over Bird's playing especially his floating handling of rhythm) but I didn't know about the early r&b cats giving credit to Pres. I bought the brilliant Savory Collection from itunes when it came out but this 1938 track is not there, do you know when it can be found? Thank you so much for your wonderful substack, avid reader here.
Thanks Jim. I see that you've subscribed for a year but is it possible that you aren't clear as to what my series is all about? I Only Ever publish information and/or audio that is absolutely available Nowhere else. If it were in the Savory set I would never have published it (unless it as an example for an essay). Where can it be found? ONLY here, nowhere else, and the same is true of everything else here. THANK YOU JIM
Oh no Lewis, you got it wrong, I am fully aware of what this substack is all about and you have my full respect as a musician, academic and jazz historian. My question arose out of musical curiosity and fell into the "example" category, it would be great if we could hear this great performance in its entirety that's all, thanks again for your efforts.
I see--Great--glad to hear it. Unfortunately I did not permission to post the entire track, with the other soloists. I agree, at some point I'd love to share that with you and everyone else. Fingers crossed on that! and THANK YOU AGAIN for your support!