Tuesday, July 1, 2008

LESTER YOUNG

(August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959)

Image from Mosaic Records

Wikipedia.com
Lester Young Bio

Lester Young was a tenor saxophonist who also played the clarinet. He had a layed back, relaxed style which was in contrast to the aggressive style of Coleman Hawkins, another prominant sax player at the same time. He played with many bands/orchestra. The most noteable probably being the Count Basie orchestra and left for a short time to replace Coleman Hawkins in the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, but because he was under pressure to sound more like Coleman Hawkins left. Eventually he returned to the Count Basie orchestra.

He played with the great Billie Holiday who gave him the nickname "The Prez".



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