Lester Leaps In (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Douglas Henry Daniels
- First Published: 2002
- Type of Work: Biography, fine arts, and history
- Time of Work: 1909-1959
- Setting: The United States, Canada, and Western Europe
- Principal Characters: Lester Young, Count Basie, Billie Holiday
- Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Arts
- Subjects: African Americans, United States or Americans, Blacks, Twentieth century, Music or musicians, Interracial relationships, New Orleans, Jazz music, Imagination, Louisiana
- Locales: Europe, United States, Canada
In his film, “Kansas City,” director Robert Altman dramatized the most famous saxophone duel in the history of jazz. In his dramatization, this fabled “cutting contest” between Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young is witnessed by a teenaged Charlie Parker, who would later become pivotal in creating modern jazz. Douglas Daniels analyzes this much- discussed event in his comprehensive biography of Lester Young, and his analysis illustrates his underlying mind-set (and heart- set), purposes, and methods. As an African American, he wants to believe the testimony of such musicians as...
[The entire page is 1997 words long]
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