Lester Young, often affectionately known as "Prez" by his peers, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Born on August 27, 1909, in Woodville, Mississippi, Young grew up in a musical family and was part of the burgeoning jazz scene that flourished in America in the early to mid-20th century. He gained prominence in the 1930s as a member of the Count Basie Orchestra, where he developed his distinctive style—marked by a relaxed, smooth sound that stood in stark contrast to the more vigorous style of his contemporaries. This sound would go on to influence many future jazz musicians.

With a career spanning several decades, he became one of the most influential players in the history of jazz. His collaborations with Billie Holiday are particularly celebrated, with their intuitive musical interplay standing as a high watermark of jazz pairing. In addition to his illustrious performances, Young is credited with contributing to the jazz lexicon, coining slang terms that were adopted by the wider culture. His discography includes timeless recordings and a breadth of work that has since been meticulously remastered and reissued for new generations to appreciate. Passing away at a tragically young age on March 15, 1959, Lester Young's legacy endures, his sound immortalized in countless albums and his influence ubiquitous among the jazz community.

Genres

Bebop

Contemporary Post-bop

Jazz

Jazz Saxophone

Related Artists

Stan Getz

Count Basie

Ben Webster

Coleman Hawkins

Billie Holiday

Charlie Parker

Dexter Gordon

Duke Ellington

Benny Goodman

Sonny Rollins

Art Pepper

Art Tatum

Latest Release

On Savoy: Lester Young

Lester Young

Album - 15 Tracks - Released November 4, 2022