Soundcheck
Prez: Beyond Billie and Basie
Monday, October 29, 2007
Saxophonist Lester Young spent his early years in a traveling carnival and earned his chops in Kansas City dancehalls. Today on Soundcheck, we look at the life and music of jazz legend Lester Young. And later: Few New York bands have a Tony Award winner in their ranks. The jumpy, jittery folk-punk quartet Old Springs Pike talks about life on different stages and performs live in our studio. And later: a violist works with young Native American composers.
The Soundcheck staff is in Berlin! Read about our adventures on a new blog, Soundcheck: On Site - Berlin.
(Pssst ... Our weeklong Berlin series begins Nov. 5!)
The Life of Lester Young
Author Dave Gelly, jazz critic for The Observer, explains how a traveling carnival, Kansas City and a stint in military prison helped shape Lester Young, one of jazz music's giants. He is the author of "Being Prez: The Life and Music of Lester Young."
Young Minds, New Ideas
A radio diary from Ralph Farris, viola player from the string quartet Ethel, on the challenges of working with young composers on a Native American reservation. This story was produced by WNYC's Beth Fertig.
Ralph Farris website
Ethel website
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