LESTER PARKER.
When I met Misty Morgan she was with a country band, then she played all kinds of music and finally her own jazz group, before we wound up back in Country Music. We were taken by a friend to meet a sax player for her combo, and when we knocked on the apartment door, this Dustin Hoffmann type guy answered in his boxer shorts. Our friend said to Lester Parker "Go put some pants on!"
He was a wonderful character and the best jazz tenor sax player in Miami... maybe in Florida. We became close friends. Les was so laid back. He could play any requested song and nobody would recognize it except another jazz musician. He spoke in the jive talk of the time, and was an avid chess player. Misty's group, with Lester, packed 'em in at a popular Miami club. We lost track of him for many decades, until recently. I found this home made eulogy to him written by a friend of his named Tim. It was on an Internet musicians' forum, and I'm leaving it in its original non-literary form, just as I found it. It's hard to understand in places, but it's "real".
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SAD NEWS......Lester Parker,.a Boston tenor sax player and friend of mine since 1969..... passed away October 10 at 9:30 PM. He went in with pneumonia , and they also found tumors on his lungs, and clogged valves in the heart. it was just a matter of time. Lester was 72. He was born Joseph Arena. His mom Angela White is 92 and in a Nursing home in Lawrence Mass. Most musicians knew him as LESTER PARKER. In the 50's Lester traveled with George Wallington the bop pianist. Lester worked the joints in Boston, but more importantly.... he was a master of the standard song form. He practiced at least 4 hours a day, sick or NOT.
Educated musically on the bandstand via the school of hard knocks, Lester had a rough as nails front. He could verbally level ya in a heartbeat, but once you got past that....he was a good guy . ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. In 1969....I first ran into him in Wallys , at a Sunday session. The first time I saw him, with his King Super 20 tenor....Black shirt, Black tie , slicked back hair....he looked like something outta the 1940s. I had no idea what to think. A WEEK LATER....I had a gig at the " Two O' Clock lounge". Playing for strippers. I was in the back room....diggin' the babes and all ..thinkin'.....when here comes Lester's hard as nails voice.... "Hey kid, Don't touch the BROADS.....it's a one way ticket to trouble"... so we went and gotta pizza on Washington st.
Thru the years , to me...Lester was a good friend. No question. The last time I saw him was last year when he came to NYC lookin' for OLD METAL BERGS (saxophones). - He was told by a shop outside town that they had drawers full. So....we trecked out in my car... Lester was smokin so much that the Lincoln tunnel smelled good.lol
ANOTHER COOL THING- Lester lived... for the session. He practiced CONSTANTLY. He rented, a spot.....in Wakefield to shed (practice). and he was there all the time...in the shed. THAT.....was an inspiration in itself. Thru the years , he helped many rhythm section guys gell on the bandstand. His thing was -PLAYIN'. You'd session with him, and he'll tell ya....." Look ...its either 4 hours minimum or I ain't bringin out my artillery.". lol- You'd play.....and he'd pass out lead sheets . As the song was goin- he'd pull the sheet off the stand and yell "PLAY!" He had a odd way.....but he was real. Lester would throw a kid's "REAL BOOK" on the floor and say..... " your not playin WITH the band..you're relyin' on that book." He meant well. Old school yea...but.......the results were there ...IF....you tried. What he had to offer was different....but ....he cared.
A few years ago he bought a mint condition King Super 20 (sax) as a back up. It was amazing. He had the bread saved to buy a newer car.... but...he went for the SUPER 20. Whatta guy, huh ? His comment was..." Hey......the sled (car) I can get any time... those pieces a junk are everwhere...the Super 20....is ART" .
Lester helped a lot of guys and was one of the cats. So....sorry for the long post.......but it's guys like this guy... who made music 24/7...365. no matter what. You'll never see his name in DownBeat or Sax Journal.... but that's why I put this much here. I owe this guy a lot. Lester kicked my butt to not settle for the OKIE DOKEY.... I valued his friendship big time. His was THE FIRST Xmas card I'd ever recieve. ( over...30 years of them too !!! ) When I wasn't home he'd talk to my mom or in later years my wife. A different kinda cat...but ....ain't we all ?!! I never expected this, as Lester was never sick. He hated hospitals and nursing homes. So in closing , be glad for the days ya got folks and make sure music is part of it. This guy sure did and many were the better for it. Where ever he is I'm sure there is a song in the air. Thanks- Tim .....
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(Responses from Tim's friends.)
Tim - thank you so much for the info on Lester Parker. I never knew him well. In fact for the last thirty years I avoided him because everyone I knew would never go to a gig or session if they even thought he was going to show up because he "terrorized" the bandstand.The very least we can say is that he was a legend here in Boston. Characters like him are getting rarer and rarer. Tim , thanks man, it's a sobering way to start the day. - TD
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Great tribute, Tim. I think anyone who spent any time in Boston remembers "Lester the character" but your post remembers Lester the man/musician. Thanks for sharing it with us. Leigh
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Tim, I don't know whether to be sorry you've lost a friend, or envious that you knew a cat like that.. But I am sorry he's gone.. BobMac
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Sad news, indeed... I never met Lester personally, but spoke to him many times on the phone. He'd call Ralph's shop, rather regularly--- and I'd know it's him--- He'd snarl into the phone "Tell Ralph it's his brother-in-law!" lol- of course they weren't related, but brothers like that, ya know... First time I ever talked to him, scared the crap outta me! Yeah, he had that gruff exterior, in your face and the langauge, but I was ready the next time he called (Ralph explained him to me!) But I soon came to know him as very generous and very knowledgable and we've got this recent picture of him blowing on the wall, black hair still slicked back... Thanks Tim for the info... I'm sorry for the loss. Brian
*************************************
(From Tim again.)
I told Roberto today...about Lester and his eyes teared up. Lester walked in the store and had EVERYONE crackin up with his crazy talk and funny BS. One young player was so touched by Lester's playing that he wanted to buy him a drink at the end of the night. Lester told the kid....save it kid... go buy some reeds and keep working on your horn. You know what his name meant right ? *Swing like LESTER YOUNG, BURN like Charlie Parker !!!!" Pretty cool . The cat who told me_ that was SAM RIVERS (Sam Rivers is a famous jazz musician and arranger).
You always knew Lester was in the building when you heard the sound of a saxophone emanating from the men's (or sometimes the ladie's) room. The next thing you knew he was strutting towards the bandstand all hunched over with his right hand doing that shaking thing of his, playing all the way. He didn't seem to care if the guys in the band welcomed him or not. Lester NEVER bought a drink in a club cuz he had this way cool flask in the Super 20 case with his initals on it...L.P. I know..cuz I was one of the few who got to take a hit off that flask. I REALLY appreciate the stuff ya'll said. Lester used to sign his letters.... " To the Bitter End"...
little did he know, ya know.......little did he know.
I'm sure gonna miss this guy . We need more Lester Parkers.
Thanks- Tim :)
Jack Blanchard
When I met Misty Morgan she was with a country band, then she played all kinds of music and finally her own jazz group, before we wound up back in Country Music. We were taken by a friend to meet a sax player for her combo, and when we knocked on the apartment door, this Dustin Hoffmann type guy answered in his boxer shorts. Our friend said to Lester Parker "Go put some pants on!"
He was a wonderful character and the best jazz tenor sax player in Miami... maybe in Florida. We became close friends. Les was so laid back. He could play any requested song and nobody would recognize it except another jazz musician. He spoke in the jive talk of the time, and was an avid chess player. Misty's group, with Lester, packed 'em in at a popular Miami club. We lost track of him for many decades, until recently. I found this home made eulogy to him written by a friend of his named Tim. It was on an Internet musicians' forum, and I'm leaving it in its original non-literary form, just as I found it. It's hard to understand in places, but it's "real".
**********************************
SAD NEWS......Lester Parker,.a Boston tenor sax player and friend of mine since 1969..... passed away October 10 at 9:30 PM. He went in with pneumonia , and they also found tumors on his lungs, and clogged valves in the heart. it was just a matter of time. Lester was 72. He was born Joseph Arena. His mom Angela White is 92 and in a Nursing home in Lawrence Mass. Most musicians knew him as LESTER PARKER. In the 50's Lester traveled with George Wallington the bop pianist. Lester worked the joints in Boston, but more importantly.... he was a master of the standard song form. He practiced at least 4 hours a day, sick or NOT.
Educated musically on the bandstand via the school of hard knocks, Lester had a rough as nails front. He could verbally level ya in a heartbeat, but once you got past that....he was a good guy . ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. In 1969....I first ran into him in Wallys , at a Sunday session. The first time I saw him, with his King Super 20 tenor....Black shirt, Black tie , slicked back hair....he looked like something outta the 1940s. I had no idea what to think. A WEEK LATER....I had a gig at the " Two O' Clock lounge". Playing for strippers. I was in the back room....diggin' the babes and all ..thinkin'.....when here comes Lester's hard as nails voice.... "Hey kid, Don't touch the BROADS.....it's a one way ticket to trouble"... so we went and gotta pizza on Washington st.
Thru the years , to me...Lester was a good friend. No question. The last time I saw him was last year when he came to NYC lookin' for OLD METAL BERGS (saxophones). - He was told by a shop outside town that they had drawers full. So....we trecked out in my car... Lester was smokin so much that the Lincoln tunnel smelled good.lol
ANOTHER COOL THING- Lester lived... for the session. He practiced CONSTANTLY. He rented, a spot.....in Wakefield to shed (practice). and he was there all the time...in the shed. THAT.....was an inspiration in itself. Thru the years , he helped many rhythm section guys gell on the bandstand. His thing was -PLAYIN'. You'd session with him, and he'll tell ya....." Look ...its either 4 hours minimum or I ain't bringin out my artillery.". lol- You'd play.....and he'd pass out lead sheets . As the song was goin- he'd pull the sheet off the stand and yell "PLAY!" He had a odd way.....but he was real. Lester would throw a kid's "REAL BOOK" on the floor and say..... " your not playin WITH the band..you're relyin' on that book." He meant well. Old school yea...but.......the results were there ...IF....you tried. What he had to offer was different....but ....he cared.
A few years ago he bought a mint condition King Super 20 (sax) as a back up. It was amazing. He had the bread saved to buy a newer car.... but...he went for the SUPER 20. Whatta guy, huh ? His comment was..." Hey......the sled (car) I can get any time... those pieces a junk are everwhere...the Super 20....is ART" .
Lester helped a lot of guys and was one of the cats. So....sorry for the long post.......but it's guys like this guy... who made music 24/7...365. no matter what. You'll never see his name in DownBeat or Sax Journal.... but that's why I put this much here. I owe this guy a lot. Lester kicked my butt to not settle for the OKIE DOKEY.... I valued his friendship big time. His was THE FIRST Xmas card I'd ever recieve. ( over...30 years of them too !!! ) When I wasn't home he'd talk to my mom or in later years my wife. A different kinda cat...but ....ain't we all ?!! I never expected this, as Lester was never sick. He hated hospitals and nursing homes. So in closing , be glad for the days ya got folks and make sure music is part of it. This guy sure did and many were the better for it. Where ever he is I'm sure there is a song in the air. Thanks- Tim .....
**************************************
(Responses from Tim's friends.)
Tim - thank you so much for the info on Lester Parker. I never knew him well. In fact for the last thirty years I avoided him because everyone I knew would never go to a gig or session if they even thought he was going to show up because he "terrorized" the bandstand.The very least we can say is that he was a legend here in Boston. Characters like him are getting rarer and rarer. Tim , thanks man, it's a sobering way to start the day. - TD
**************************************
Great tribute, Tim. I think anyone who spent any time in Boston remembers "Lester the character" but your post remembers Lester the man/musician. Thanks for sharing it with us. Leigh
*************************************
Tim, I don't know whether to be sorry you've lost a friend, or envious that you knew a cat like that.. But I am sorry he's gone.. BobMac
************************************
Sad news, indeed... I never met Lester personally, but spoke to him many times on the phone. He'd call Ralph's shop, rather regularly--- and I'd know it's him--- He'd snarl into the phone "Tell Ralph it's his brother-in-law!" lol- of course they weren't related, but brothers like that, ya know... First time I ever talked to him, scared the crap outta me! Yeah, he had that gruff exterior, in your face and the langauge, but I was ready the next time he called (Ralph explained him to me!) But I soon came to know him as very generous and very knowledgable and we've got this recent picture of him blowing on the wall, black hair still slicked back... Thanks Tim for the info... I'm sorry for the loss. Brian
*************************************
(From Tim again.)
I told Roberto today...about Lester and his eyes teared up. Lester walked in the store and had EVERYONE crackin up with his crazy talk and funny BS. One young player was so touched by Lester's playing that he wanted to buy him a drink at the end of the night. Lester told the kid....save it kid... go buy some reeds and keep working on your horn. You know what his name meant right ? *Swing like LESTER YOUNG, BURN like Charlie Parker !!!!" Pretty cool . The cat who told me_ that was SAM RIVERS (Sam Rivers is a famous jazz musician and arranger).
You always knew Lester was in the building when you heard the sound of a saxophone emanating from the men's (or sometimes the ladie's) room. The next thing you knew he was strutting towards the bandstand all hunched over with his right hand doing that shaking thing of his, playing all the way. He didn't seem to care if the guys in the band welcomed him or not. Lester NEVER bought a drink in a club cuz he had this way cool flask in the Super 20 case with his initals on it...L.P. I know..cuz I was one of the few who got to take a hit off that flask. I REALLY appreciate the stuff ya'll said. Lester used to sign his letters.... " To the Bitter End"...
little did he know, ya know.......little did he know.
I'm sure gonna miss this guy . We need more Lester Parkers.
Thanks- Tim :)
Jack Blanchard
The Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan Home Page: http://jackandmisty.com
Restoration and mastering studio: 407 330 1611.
CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jackmisty
© 2011
Restoration and mastering studio: 407 330 1611.
CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jackmisty
© 2011
Why did I not study under him? Instead, I did manual labor and attended lousy colleges with lousy people. SOLID MAN. We need more like him. We ain't got shit.
ReplyDeleteLes played in my wife Misty Morgan's jazz group in Miami and Key West. All the other musicians in town came to hear them. Outside of music, he was a nice guy and a good friend.
DeleteI played piano with Lester Parker many times in Boston area in the 1960's. Quite a character. I was in college and would sleep over at his mother's house in Lawrence and take a train into Boston to go to classes in the morning. After I moved to Milwaukee, he called me and asked "Is there a music store in Milwaukee or is it a one-horse town?". He was looking for Rico #5 tenor reeds (in the brown box, he specified). I found some and my Dad met him in a store to hand-deliver the reeds. He used to call looking for bass players and would say I should call Eddie Safranski or Tommy Potter, both names from the 40's. I think I still have a recording of a quartet session at my house from c. 1966 with Lester, Chris Hills (bass), and J. R. Mitchell (drums).
ReplyDeleteI worked as a drummer with Lester and John Neves (bass) at the 1369 club, Boston around '77. He was old school with a relentless appetite for standards, a heart of gold and a one of a kind. Sorry to hear the sad news so late. R I P
ReplyDelete