Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed Prez, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist.
He is remembered as one of the finest, most influential players on his instrument and for inventing or establishing much of the hipster ethos which came to be associated with jazz.
Lester Young was born in Woodville, Mississippi and grew up in a musical family. Young's father, Willis Handy Young, was a respected teacher, his brother Lee Young was a drummer, and several other relatives played music professionally. His family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when Lester was an infant and later to Minneapolis. His father taught him to play trumpet, violin, and drums in addition to the saxophone. He played in his family's band in both the vaudeville and carnival circuits. He left the family band in 1927 because he refused to tour in the Southern United States, where the Jim Crow Laws were in effect.
In 1933 he settled in Kansas City after brief...
Created by dipity on Jan 23, 2008
Last updated: 11/17/09 at 11:34 PM
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Track listing: A Foggy DayI Can't Get Started (With You)Lester Leaps InI'm Confessin' (That I Love You)Almost Like Being in LoveD.B. BluesThese Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)Lullaby of Birdland
Track listing: Shoe Shine BoyOh, Lady Be GoodThis Year's KissesEasy LivingMe, Myself and IA Sailboat in the MoonlightOne O'Clock JumpWhen You're SmilingEvery TubSwinging the BluesDoggin' ArroundJumpin' at the WoodsideI Can't Get StartedWay Down Yonder in New OrleansCountless BluesI Want a Little GirlShorty GeorgePannassie StompYou Can Depend on MeCherokee, Parts 1 & 2Jive at FiveTaxi War DancePound CakeClap Hands, Here Comes Charlie
Track listing: Dickie's DreamLester Leaps InTickle ToeAd-Lib BluesI Never KnewLester's DreamBroadwayTickle ToeTaxi War DanceBlitzkrieg Baby (You Can't Bomb Me)Beautiful EyesThings About Coming My WayJust Jivin' AroundAll of MeI Can't Get StartedTea for TwoBody and SoulHello BabeJust You, Just MeAfternoon of a Basie-Ite
Track listing: Sometimes I'm HappyAfter Theatre JumpSix Cats and a PrinceLester Leaps AgainDestination K.C.I Got RhythmPoor Little PlaythingExercise in SwingSalute to FatsBlue LesterI Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With YouJump, Lester, JumpMidnight SymphonyD.B. BluesLester Blows AgainThese Foolish ThingsJumpin' at Mesner'sBack to the LandI Cover the WaterfrontI've Found a New BabyI Want to Be Happy
Track listing: It's Only a Paper MoonLover, Come Back to MeYou're Driving Me CrazyLester's Be-Bop BoogieShe's Funny That WaySundayS.M. BluesJumpin' With Symphony SidOn the Sunny Side of the StreetSax-O-Be-BopJust CoolingI'm Confessin' (That I Love You)East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)The Sheik of ArabySomething to Remember You ByDing DongBlues 'n' BellsLester Leaps InEmbraceable You
Track listing: D.B. BluesLester Blows AgainThese Foolish ThingsJumpin' at Mesner'sIt's Only a Paper MoonAfter You've GoneLover, Come Back to MeJammin' With LesterYou're Driving Me CrazyNew Lester Leaps InLester's Be Bop BoogieShe's Funny That WaySundayS.M. BluesJumpin' With Symphony SidNo Eyes BluesSax-O-Be-BopOn the Sunny Side of the StreetEasy Does ItMovin' With LesterOne O'Clock Jump
Track listing: Jumpin' at the WoodsideConfessin'Lester Smooths It OutJust Coolin'Tea for TwoEast of the SunThe Sheik of ArabySomething to Remember You ByIndianaI Can't Get StartedTea for TwoBody and Soul[untitled (Ad Lib)]Please Let Me Forget(I Love Him Though) He Don't Love Me Any MorePleasin' Man Blues (Stop Jivin' Around)See See RiderIt's Better to Give Than to Receive
Track listing: Jeepers CreepersThou Swell (USA 78Rpm take)Thou Swell (Canada 78Rpm take)September in the RainUndercover Girl BluesFrenesiPete's CafeLittle Pee BluesA Foggy DayIn a Little Spanish TownLet's Fall in LoveDown 'n' AdamLester SwingsSlow Motion BluesAd Lib BluesJust You, Just MeTea for Two(Back Home Again In) IndianaThese Foolish ThingsI Can't Get Started
Track listing: Back to the LandI Cover the Waterfront (12" LP take)I Cover the Waterfront (Master take)Somebody Loves MeI've Found a New BabyThe Man I LovePeg O' My HeartI Want to Be HappyMean to MeToo Marvelous for Words (78rpm take)Too Marvelous for Words (LP take)'Deed I DoEncorePolka Dots and MoonbeamsUp 'n' AdamThree Little WordsCount Every Star (Master take)Count Every StarIt All Depends on YouNeenah (alternate take)Neenah (alternate take)Neenah (Master take)
Track listing: (Back Home Again In) IndianaPennies From HeavenNew D.B. BluesLullaby of BirdlandThere Will Never Be Another YouTea for Two[interview: Early Life / Birthplace / Music in New Orleans / Young's Father][interview: After New Orleans][interview: Pres's Instruments / Drums / Tenor Saxophone][interview: Count Basie][interview: Racial Tension][interview: Influences][interview: Composing and Reading Music / The Family Band / With Orchestra][interview: Recordings: Clarinet Dates][interview: Lady Day and Nobody's Business][interview: Philosophy on Music I][interview: Younger Saxophone][interview: Basie Then and Now][interview: Debunking][interview: Philosophy on Music II][interview: Pres's Sound: Sitting in With Fletcher Henderson][interview: Joining Henderson][interview: Early Pres: Oliver, Bronson, Basie][interview: Coleman Hawkins and Henderson][interview: Billie Holiday][interview: Recording Techniques][interview: Pres's Favorite Singers][interview: Philosophy on Music Vis-A-Vis Other Tenor Players][interview: Records New and Old][interview: Mahalia Jackson]
Track listing: St. Tropez (alternate take)St. Tropez (master take)FlicBallad Medley: A Ghost of a Chance / I Cover the WaterfrontLove Is Here to StaySunday (rejected version)Perdido (incomplete take)Waldorf Blues (alternate take)Waldorf Blues (master take)Sunday (master take)You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me (alternate take)
Track listing: Star DustIt Takes Two to TangoOn the Sunny Side of the StreetAlmost Like Being in LoveI Can't Give You Anything but LoveThere Will Never Be Another YouI'm Confessin'Willow Weep for MeThis Can't Be LoveCan't We Be Friends?TenderlyNew D.B. BluesJumpin' at the WoodsideI Can't Believe That You're in Love With MeOh, Lady, Be Good!Another MamboCome Rain or Come ShineRose RoomSomebody Loves MeTouch Me AgainIt Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Track listing: You're Getting to Be a Habit With MeRompingGypsy in My SoulPlease Don't Talk About Me When I'm GoneThey Can't Take That Away From MeSalute to BennyBallad Medley: The Very Thought of You / I Want a Little GirlMean to MeI Didn't Know What Time It WasOh, Lady, Be Good!Almost Like Being in LoveThree Little WordsI Cover the WaterfrontI Can't Get Started
Track listing: I'm in the Mood for LoveBig Top BluesMean to MeThat's All (alternate take)That's All (master take)Red Boy BluesPennies From HeavenShe's Funny That Way (breakdown)She's Funny That Way (master take)One O'Clock JumpIt's the Talk of the TownI've Found a New BabyI Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan
Track listing: I Didn't Know What Time It WasGigantic BluesThis Year's KissesYou Can Depend on MePres ReturnsPrisoner of LoveTaking a Chance on LoveAll of MeLouiseLove Is Here to StayLove Me or Leave Me
Track listing: Ad Lib BluesLester SwingsUndercover Girl BluesIt's the Talk of the TownUp 'n' AdamThey Can't Take That Away From MeIt Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)Love Is Here to StayWaldorf BluesAll of MePolka Dots and MoonbeamsThis Year's KissesI Cover the Waterfront (12" LP take)
Track listing: Talk to the TownI Cover the WaterfrontPennies From HeavenG's, If You PleaseAlmost Like Being in LoveI'm Confessin' (That I Love You)D.B. Blues
Track listing: IndianaI Can't Get StartedD.B. BluesLester Blows AgainThese Foolish ThingsJumpin' At Mesner'sIt's Only a Paper MoonAfter You've GoneLover, Come Back to MeJammin' With LesterYou're Driving Me CrazyNew Lester Leaps InLester's Be Bop BoogieShe's Funny That WaySundayS.M. BluesTea for TwoBody and Soul
Track listing: Jumpin' With Symphony SidNo Eyes BluesSax-O-Be-BopOn the Sunny Side of the StreetEasy Does ItEasy Does It (alternate take)Movin' With LesterOne O'Clock JumpJumpin' at the WoodsideI'm Confessin'Lester Smooths It OutJust CoolingTea for TwoEast of the SunThe Sheik of ArabySomething to Remember You ByRiffin' Without HelenPlease Let Me ForgetHe Don't Love Me AnymorePleasing Man BluesSee See RiderIt's Better to Give Than Receive
Track listing: Lester Leaps InThese Foolish ThingsThree Little WordsPennies From HeavenPolka Dots and Moonbeams(Back Home Again In) IndianaJumpin' With Symphony SidD.B. BluesI Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With YouUp 'n' AdamBlues in G (Lester's Mop Mop Blues)Tea for Two
Track listing: Love Me or Leave MeSometimes I'm HappyI've Found a New BabyPolka Dots and Moonbeams(Back Home Again In) IndianaPrisoner of LoveIn a Little Spanish TownJust You, Just MePeg O' My HeartToo Marvelous for WordsAll of MeI'm Confessin' (That I Love You)Mean to MeI Never KnewOn the Sunny Side of the Street
Lester Young died
Lester Young was born
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