Lester Young
Tenor Sax
March 15, 1959 (Age 49) died
August 27, 1909 Birthday
Woodville, Mississippi, U.S. Birthplace
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About
Lester Young, known as "the Pres," was one of the most influential tenor saxophonists in jazz. He is celebrated for his soft, lyrical playing, innovative phrasing, and unique personal style, which included wearing a porkpie hat. In the 1930s, Young moved to Kansas City and joined the Count Basie Orchestra. His laid-back playing was in direct contrast to the dominant, more aggressive style of the time epitomized by Coleman Hawkins. Young rose to fame playing with Basie as well as with other smaller groups, including collaborations with Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson. In 1943, he was drafted into the US Army, hoping to play in a military band but instead assigned to the regular army, where he had horrific experiences. After his service, he continued to perform and record, often working with Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic, but struggled with mental health and alcoholism. Lester Young died in 1959 at the age of 49 from complications related to alcohol abuse.
Trivia
Lester Young was known for his colorful language and has been credited for popularizing the slang terms "cool" for stylish and "bread" for money. Lester Young's composition "D.B. Blues" was inspired by his unhappy time in the US Army, D.B. refers to "Detention Barracks." Lester Young had a unique was of playing his saxophone ,holding it high and at 45 degree angle.
Early Life
Lester Young was born in Mississippi and spent his early childhood in the South before moving with his family to Minneapolis. His father, a musician and bandleader, taught Lester and his two siblings to play various instruments. By the time Young was 10 years old, he could play the violin, drums, and trumpet and was a member of the Young Family Band. He began playing the alto saxophone around age 13. He spent most of his teens performing in his family's band but left the group at 18 due to his refusal to play gigs in the Jim Crow South. He then joined Art Bronson's Bostonians, focusing on the tenor saxophone, and spent several years freelancing while occasionally returning to play with the Young Family Band. In 1933, he moved to Kansas City and shortly thereafter joined Count Basie's Orchestra.
Lester Young Solos
1955
Tenor Sax solo - Mean To Me - 1955
4/4 swing in C major at 153 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Red Boy Blues - 1955
4/4 swing in F major at 118 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Pennies From Heaven - 1955
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 182 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Pennies From Heaven - 1955
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 178 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - One O'Clock Jump - 1955
4/4 swing in D♭ major at 238 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - She's Funny That Way - 1955
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 146 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - I Found A New Baby - 1955
4/4 swing in F major at 222 BPM
1952
Tenor Sax solo - Ad Lib Blues - 1952
4/4 swing in C major at 218 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Ad Lib Blues - 1952
4/4 swing in C major at 215 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Just You, Just Me - 1952
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 239 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Tea For Two - 1952
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 260 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Indiana - 1952
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 184 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - 1952
4/4 swing in C major at 105 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Almost Like Being In Love - 1952
4/4 swing in C major at 131 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - There Will Never Be Another You - 1952
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 85 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Confessin' - 1952
4/4 ballad in A♭ major at 80 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Takes Two To Tango - 1952
4/4 swing in F major at 105 BPM