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Lester Young
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Lester Young played the tenor saxophone differently from Coleman Hawkins: with a light, airy tone and melodies that float across the bar lines. He named the saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer as his example. In 1936 he made his first recordings with a small group from Count Basie's band, in which he was the great soloist until 1940. He recorded a series of records with Billie Holiday; she gave him the nickname 'Prez', and he called her 'Lady Day'. In 1944 he was drafted into the army, where he was severely punished. His cool, relaxed way of playing became a model for Cool Jazz.
Listening
Listening tip. Hear how the saxophone plays lightly and unhurriedly across the beat.
Lady Be Good · Jones-Smith, 1936
Lester Leaps In · Count Basie (met Lester Young), 1957
These Foolish Things · Lester Young & Oscar Peterson Trio, 1952
Discography
Studio albums
- 1954Lester Young with The Oscar Peterson Trio #1
- 1954Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio #2
- 1954The President
- 1955Pres and Sweets
- 1955Tops on Tenor
- 1958Going for Myself
- 1959Le Dernier Message de Lester Young
- 1961An Historical Meeting At The Summit
- 1977Grand Concert gravé en 1945
- 1984The Savoy Recordings
- 1987The Complete Lester Young
- 1989Prez Conferences
- 1989The Savoy Recordings, Vol 1
- 1992Jazz Immortal Series - Volume 2 - The Pres
- 1992The Jazz Giants
- 1994Lester Young Trio
- 1997Lady Be Good
- 1998In Washington, D.C. 1956, Vol. 4
- 1998In Washington, D.C. 1956, Vol. 5
- 2000Blue Lester
- 2000Laughin' to Keep From Cryin'
- 2001Easy Does It
- 2002Prez In Europe
- 2002The Complete Savoy Recordings
- 2003Timeless Lester Young
- 2005Blue Lester
- 2016All That Jazz, Vol. 73: Lester Young "Exercises in Swing"
- 2018Four Classic Albums (Second Set)
- 2018Lester Leaps In
- 2024Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?
- ?Timeless Lester Young
Other work
- 1936Lady Be Good · Jones-Smith Inc.
- 1939Lester Leaps In · Count Basie's Kansas City Seven
- 1937–1938Billie Holiday · with Teddy Wilson
- 1945These Foolish Things
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Jazz MapNL Map
- After Hours: Session 1NL Reader
- After Hours: Session 2NL Reader
Mentioned in other articles
- Kansas City jazz Genre
Bennie Moten led the most important orchestra; after his death in 1935 the pianist Count Basie started a band of his own, with the tenor saxophonist Lester Young.