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Lester Young (right) and his band play WNYC's American Music Festival, Feb. 15, 1941. (Harry Rubenstein)Prez: Beyond Billie and Basie
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.
Old Springs Pike
Folk-punk quartet Old Springs Pike plays live in our studio, in advance of tonight's 11:30 p.m. performance at Joe's Pub.
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See Tori Amos Live!
Join us Tuesday, Dec. 9 at The Greene Space
Singer and pianist Tori Amos joins us to talk about reworking and reinventing seasonal carols on her new holiday album. And, she performs for a live audience in The Greene Space! Click the link for ticket info.
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