The House in the Heart: Lester Young in the 1950s

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This week on Night Lights it's "The House in the Heart: Lester Young in the 1950s." Even as his physical health declined throughout the 1950s, tenor saxophonist Lester Young remained capable of moving and beautiful performances. We'll hear tracks with pianists John Lewis and Oscar Peterson, a reunion date with Teddy Wilson in 1956, live recordings from December of that year, and Lester Young himself speaking with jazz writer Chris Albertson in 1958 about modern-day saxophonists. The program concludes with readings from "The House in the Heart," Bobby Scott's memoir about traveling with Young on the 1955 Jazz at the Philharmonic tour, and "There Will Never Be Another You," from Young's last studio session, recorded just two weeks before his death in March 1959. You can listen live on Saturday at 11:10 p.m (9:10 California time, 12:10 New York time) at WFIU; the program will be posted next week in the Night Lights archive..

Next week: "Strange Enchantment," a Halloween Eve program featuring Lenny Bruce's "Enchanted Transylvania," Duke Ellington's "Stalking Monster" (from his "Night Creature" suite), Bill Evans' "Witchcraft," the true story of the New Orleans Jazz Killer, and more.

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Up for broadcast in about 1 hour and 45 minutes.