Lester Young

Biography

Lester Willis Young, born August 27, 1909 in Woodville, Mississippi, was raised in a musical family—his father was a music professor and his mother a piano teacher. He began performing as a child in his father's carnival-minstrel bands, learning drums, dancing, and eventually the saxophone. After early stints with local bands and groups such as the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, Young moved to Kansas City in the 1930s, a vibrant jazz hub, where his career began to flourish.

Young's breakthrough came in 1936 when he joined Count Basie's orchestra, where his light, melodic tenor saxophone style contrasted sharply with the dominant, robust approach of contemporaries like Coleman Hawkins. His solos on recordings such as 'Lester Leaps In' and 'Taxi War Dance' became jazz milestones, and his understated, 'cool' tone helped lay the groundwork for the cool jazz movement. Young was also a close collaborator with Billie Holiday, who gave him the nickname 'Prez' (President of Tenor Saxophonists), while he dubbed her 'Lady Day.'

Despite a successful career, Young faced personal and professional challenges, including a traumatic military draft experience during World War II that led to a court-martial and lasting emotional scars. In his later years, his playing took on a darker, more introspective tone, but his influence only grew. Young's innovative phrasing, relaxed swing, and unique sense of melody inspired generations of jazz musicians, making him one of the most influential tenor saxophonists in jazz history.

Fun Facts

• Lester Young was known for his distinctive fashion sense, especially his trademark pork pie hat.
• He popularized much of the hipster slang associated with jazz, including the use of the word 'cool' in its modern sense.
• Young held his saxophone at an unusual angle, out to the side like a flute, rather than upright.
• He and Billie Holiday gave each other their famous nicknames: she called him 'Prez,' and he called her 'Lady Day.'

Associated Acts

• Lester Young and His Band
• Kansas City Six
• Jones‐Smith, Incorporated
• Count Basie Band
• Metronome All Stars - tenor saxophone
• Lester Young Trio
• Lester Young-Buddy Rich Trio
• Lester Young Quartet - eponymous
• Lester Young & Company - eponymous

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Willis Handy Young - Lester's father, a music professor, who taught him music fundamentals and led the family band. (Family band performances) [1910s–1920s]
• Coleman Hawkins - Stylistic influence and rival; Young developed his own contrasting style in response to Hawkins's dominant approach. (Fletcher Henderson Orchestra (brief overlap)) [1934]

Key Collaborators

• Count Basie - Band leader; Young was a star soloist in Basie's orchestra. (Count Basie Orchestra recordings ('Lester Leaps In', 'Taxi War Dance')) [1936–1940s, 1943–1949]
• Billie Holiday - Close musical and personal collaborator; mutual inspiration. (Numerous recordings, including 'A Sailboat in the Moonlight') [1930s–1950s]
• Buck Clayton - Fellow Basie band member and frequent collaborator. (Basie Orchestra recordings) [1936–1940s]
• Herschel Evans - Fellow tenor saxophonist in Basie's band; friendly rivalry. (Basie Orchestra recordings) [1936–1939]

Artists Influenced

• Stan Getz - Adopted Young's lyrical, cool tone and phrasing. (Early Stan Getz recordings) [1940s–1950s]
• John Coltrane - Cited Young as a major influence on his approach to saxophone. (Coltrane's early style) [1940s–1950s]
• Paul Desmond - Modeled his cool, melodic approach after Young. (Work with Dave Brubeck Quartet) [1950s–1960s]
• Dexter Gordon - Inspired by Young's phrasing and tone. (Gordon's recordings) [1940s–1950s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. There Will Never Be Another You (The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio)
2. I Can't Get Started (The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio)
3. These Foolish Things - Remastered 1995 (The Complete Aladdin Recordings Of Lester Young)
4. Stardust (The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio)
5. Blue Lester (Blue Lester: The Immortal Lester Young)
6. These Foolish Things (Blue Lester: The Immortal Lester Young)
7. Almost Like Being In Love (The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio)
8. There Will Never Be Another You (Lester Young With The Oscar Peterson Trio)
9. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan (The Jazz Giants '56)
10. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #swing