Looking for Lester is a journal about the process of making a documentary film about the jazz legend Lester Willis Young (1909-1959).  This site was created as a place to  document the progress of the film. I will be posting stories, photos and video interviews to this site over the coming months.
The photo in the page header is of Lester and his mother, Lizetta.

Five Spot Cafe, NYC 1958 © Herb Snitzer

Another Jazz Master has fallen. I’m saddened for the family of Mr. Jones and for the extended jazz family. A few months back I began discussions with Mr. Jones’s manager, Jean Pierre Leduc, to interview Hank about Lester. Hank was interested in talking about Prez. We were hoping to find a time, but it ran out. I am saddened that I did not get the opportunity to interview Hank about Prez and his experience playing with him at JATP and in Gjon Mili’s “Jammin the Blues.”

In August of 2009, Smithsonian Magazine said, “Lester Young…remains a powerful influence on the music. Wayne Shorter, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano… an elite list of contemporary saxophonists—have all professed deep admiration for Young.”

I had the opportunity to talk to Joe Lovano just before he went on stage with his wife Judy Silvano at Ryles in Cambridge on March 27th, 2010.  Joe never met Lester but his influence was transmitted to Joe through his father, Tony “Big T” Lovano, who played with Pres in Cleveland during the 50’s. Later that evening Joe went on to channel Pres for a lucky group of aficionados. 

Happy Birthday Billie Holiday, April 7, 1915. I hope by the time we are celebrating her centenary, we can celebrate the completion of this Pres movie.

Here is the last time Pres and Lady Day ever performed together. Her expression listening to Lester’s solo on Fine and Mellow (between 2:56 and 3:15) says it all about their love of one another.

Great big sad beautiful eyes for Pres and Lady Day.

Speaking with David Amram on Lester’s 100th birthday (27 Aug 2009), he resolved a long-standing ambiguity in Lester’s last interview.
In that interview, conducted by François Postif in Paris, Lester referred to “a man in New York writing some music for me” with “bass violin, two cellos and a viola, and a French horn.” This composer was long thought to be Gil Evans, but David Amram confirms that is was he, who met Pres through the drummer Willie Jones prior to Pres leaving for Paris.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview we mentioned a few weeks back. B.B. King spoke to me about the lessons learned from Lester…

Lester Willis Young died on March 15, 1959; 51 years ago today.

I recently met with Lester’s friend and colleague, pianist Junior Mance, who was exceedingly generous in sharing many of his remembrances of Pres. Visit Junior’s website to find out more about this remarkable musician and teacher.

In this brief excerpt, Junior recalls Lester’s funeral…

The great B.B. King gave us a few minutes before his show at Foxwoods Casino to talk about Lester. Will post a clip soon.

Sax giant Lee Konitz generously spent the afternoon talking with us about Lester’s influence. Even Mr. Konitz, a player at the top of his art, continues to study Lester’s solos. Here’s a taste of the interview, and a glimpse into Lee’s process.