Chris Albertson
(calbertson@nyc.rr.com)
discussion with Lester Young in 1958
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34. kc bob 01-11-2001 / 09:09 PM
Chris, I have a collection of mostly unpublished jazz interviews from the 50's
to 70's that I have converted from tape to CD a few years ago. I have recently
converted them to MP3 and am considering posting them on my site if I can get
away with it in this age of Napsterdom.
They include interviews with Parker, Coltrane, Archie Shepp, others... and one
15 minute interview with a very mellow Lester Young done by... Chris Albertson.
You talked with him about playing with King Oliver, Basie, Andy Kirk, replacing
Hawkins in Fletch's band and that's just the first 5 minutes. He seemed a bit
flustered when you mentioned Bessie Smith and when trying get his opinion on
Bean.
Would you mind if I post this and the URL for others here to listen to?
Also, what is the year? I don't have the year.
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35. Chris A 01-11-2001 / 11:05 PM
That's an embarrassing "interview," Bob. I never intended it to be
heard unedited. It was made in Philadelphia (at WCAU) in 1958, for a weekly
radio program which I wrote and produced. The whole purpose was to solicit
statement that could be cut out and inserted in the program. That's why I ask
many perplexingly dumb questions. Whenever someone asks me for permission to use
this tape (it has appeared in a couple of books and is part of the recent Verve
Lester Young box) I request that they preface it with an explanation.
I would never have made it public if it hadn't been for the fact that it is one
of only two known taped interviews with Lester.
Anyway, to answer your question, please feel free to use it, but try to explain
the circumstances under which it was made.
Download MP3 File Here (File is 2.5MB, 11 minute audio MP3)
Need RealPlayer or other MP3 player.
I have other interviews from mostly 50's to 70's with another Lester Young, Parker, Coltrane and less or mostly unknown interviews with Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, Kenny Drew, Chick Corea, Dollar Brand, Herbie Hancock, Charles Toliver, Wayne Shorter, bunch of others. Many came from USA/European radio interviews in 50's to 70's and were recorded over the air by some listener. Thanks to Jan Strom in Stockholm for providing many of these to me. You can find others here.
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