HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Swing Jazz of Leaping Lester Young

Birth of Swing Jazz: Lester Young

Lester Young

Born on 27 August 1909 in Woodville, Mississippi, swing musician, Lester Young, is said to have coined the colloquialisms, "cool" for fashionable and "bread" for money. He began his career in 1933 in Kansas City playing clarinet, tenor sax and trumpet with various bands. Young first recorded with pianist, Count Basie, in Chicago on November 9, 1936: 'Shoe Shine Boy', 'Evenin'', 'Boogie Woogie' and 'Lady Be Good'. Basie would be a huge figure throughout Young's career, their last of an extensive number of recordings thought to be on December 5, 1957, during a rehearsal in New York City for the CBS 'Sound of Jazz' television series. Those titles: 'Dickie's Dream' and 'I Left My Baby'.

'Shoe Shine Boy' Lester Young (tenor sax) w Jones-Smith Incorporated

9 Nov 1936 in Chicago Matrix: C-1657-1 Vocalion 3441

Trumpet: Carl Smith Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin

'Oh, Lady Be Good' Lester Young (tenor sax) w Jones-Smith Incorporated

9 Nov 1936 in Chicago Matrix: C-1660-1 Vocalion 3459

Trumpet: Carl Smith Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

During his early intermittent Basie days Young also played in Fletcher Henderson's and Andy Kirk's orchestras. After his first few sessions with Basie he next recorded with Teddy Wilson's orchestra on January 25, 1937, Billie Holiday included. Those tracks for Brunswick were 'He ain't Got Rhythm', 'The Year's Kisses', 'Why Was I Born?' and 'I Must Have That Man'. Young and Holiday also recorded together extensively, including in each other's orchestras. It was Holiday who nicknamed him "The Pres". Their last recordings together are thought to have been on December 8, 1957 for the CBS television series, 'The Sound of Jazz', only a few days after his last with Basie above. Young would encounter Wilson often, generally with Holiday's orchestras.

'He's Funny That Way' Lester Young (tenor sax) w Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

13 Sep 1937 in New York City Matrix: 21689-1 Vocalion 3748

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Clarinet: Buster Bailey Piano: Claude Thornhill

Guitar: Freddie Green Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Music: Neil Moret Lyrics: Richard Whiting 1929

'Way Down Yonder In New Orleans' Lester Young (clarinet) w the Kansas City Six

17 Sep 1938 in New York City Matrix: P23421-2 Commodore 512

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Guitar: Eddie Durham (electric) / Freddie Green Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Henry Creamer / Turner Layton Arrangement: Eddie Durham

In 1939 Lester's clarinet was stolen, so he played not that instrument again until 1957. That was the same year of his famous composition, 'Lester Leaps In', released with Basie. Young also composed 'Tickle Toe' (1940) for issue by Basie.

'You Can Depend On Me' Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Count Basie Sextet

2 Feb 1939 in New York City Matrix: 64978-A Decca 2631 / 3882

Trumpet: Shad Collins Piano: Basie

Guitar: Freddie Green Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Vocal: Jimmy Rushing (aka Mr. Five by Five)

Composition: Charles Carpenter / Louis Dunlap / Earl Hines

'Lester Leaps In' Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Count Basie Sextet

5 Sep 1939 in New York City Matrix: B25297-2 Vocalion 5118

Trumpet: Shad Collins Piano: Basie

Guitar: Freddie Green Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Basie / Young

Most of Young's long catalogue of above eighty sessions was with his own bands. He first recorded as a leader for Radio WNYC on February 15, 1941: 'Tickle Toe' and 'Willow Weep for Me'. Those saw issue in 1984 on 'Historical Prez' (Everybodys EV 3002).

'Tickle Toe' / 'Willow Weep for Me' Lester Young (tenor sax) Orchestra

15 Feb 1941 at Radio WNYC in New York City

Trumpet: Shad Collins Piano: Basie

Guitar: John Collins (electric) Bass: Nick Fenton Drums: Doc West

Composition 'Tickle Toe': Young

Composition 'Willow Weep for Me': Ann Ronell 1932

Young attended a good number of sessions in one manner or another, including a band he ran with his brother, drummer, Lee Young, before his first of a few occasions with pianist, Nat King Cole. That was on 15 July 1942 with a trio including Red Callender on bass netting 'Indiana', 'I Can't Get Started', 'Tea for Two' and 'Body and Soul'. Cole and Young would record again in 1946.

'Indiana' / 'I Can't Get Started' / 'Body and Soul' Nat King Cole Trio

15 July 1942 in Hollywood Matrices Van 1000 / Van 1001 / Van 1004

Tenor sax: Lester Young Piano: Cole Bass: Red Callender

Composition "Indiana': Music: James F. Hanley Lyrics: Ballard MacDonald Pub Jan 1917

Composition 'I Can't Get Started': Music: Vernon Duke Lyrics: Ira Gershwin 1936

Composition 'Body and Soul':

Music: Johnny Green Lyrics: Edward Heyman / Robert Sour / Frank Eyton 1930

In 1944 Young issued a few titles with his quartet which placed real nice on the R&B charts. 'Just You, Just Me' found #9, 'Lester Leaps Again' rose to #10 and his best-selling title overall, 'Sometimes I'm Happy', reached #5.

'Sometimes I'm Happy' Lester Young (tenor sax) Quartet

8 Dec 1943 in NYC Matrix HL4-2 Keynote 604

Piano: Johnny Guarnieri Bass: Slam Stewart Drums: Big Sid Catlett

Music: Vincent Youmans Lyrics: Irving Caesar 1923

'Lester Leaps Again' Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Kansas City Seven

22 March 1944 in NYC Matrix HL23-1 Keynote 1302

Trumpet: Buck Clayton (arrangement) Trombone: Dicky Wells

Piano: Count Basie as Prince Charming Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Rodney Richardson Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Young

'Blue Lester' Lester Young (tenor sax) Quintet

1 May 1944 in NYC Matrix S5454-1 Savoy 581 / 667

Piano: Count Basie Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Rodney Richardson Drums: Shadow Wilson

Composition: Young

'Jammin' the Blues' Lester Young (tenor sax)

9 Nov 1944 Short film directed by GJon Mili w Norman Granz

Wikipedia

Young was drafted into the Army, then dishonorably discharged after serving a year in detention for alcohol and marijuana possession. In 1946 he joined Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) with which he kept for the next twelve years.

'Just You, Just Me' Lester Young (tenor sax) Orchestra

27 Nov 1948 at the Royal Roost in NYC

Trumpet: Jesse Drakes Trombone: Ted Kelly

Piano: Freddy Jefferson

Bass: Tex Briscoe Drums: Roy Haynes

Music: Jesse Greer Lyrics: Raymond Klages 1929

The Royal Roost at 1580 Broadway: All About Jazz KSDS Jazz Donald Siegel Wikipedia

'The Closer' Lester Young (tenor sax) w Jazz At The Philharmonic (JATP)

18 Sep 1949 at Carnegie Hall in NYC

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Trombone: Tommy Turk

Tenor sax: Flip Phillips Piano: Hank Jones

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Buddy Rich

Carnegie Hall at 881 7th Avenue: Carnegie Hall Wikipedia

'Destination Moon' The Lester Young (tenor sax) Band

C 22 Feb 1950 at the Savoy Ballroom in NYC

See the album '"PRES"' on Charlie Parker Records PLP-402 / 1961

Trumpet: Jesse Drakes

Tenor sax: Flip Phillips Piano: Kenny Drew

Bass: Aaron Bell Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Marvin Fisher / Roy Alfred

The Savoy Ballroom at 596 Lenox Avenue:

AAEP 1600 Ken Burns Giordano Dance Harlem World Magazine

Mark the Savoy McGill Gabriela Novellino Welcome to the Savoy Wikipedia

'Ghost of a Chance' The Lester Young (tenor sax) Quartet

20 Jan 1951 at the Birdland in NYC

Piano: John Lewis Bass: Gene Ramey Drums: Jo Jones

Composition: Victor Young / Ned Washington / Bing Crosby

The Birdland at 1678 Broadway: Birdland Club Birdland Jazz Forbes Wikipedia

In 1955 Young experienced a nervous breakdown, said to be precipitated by alcohol abuse. In 1956 he laid tracks with Teddy Wilson for the album, 'Prez and Teddy', also recording the album, 'Jazz Giants '56'. That same year he toured Europe with both Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Quartet. He also performed engagements at the Patio Lounge in Washington D.C..

'PRES and Teddy' Lester Young (tenor sax) w Teddy Wilson (piano) Album

13 Jan 1956 in NYC

Bass: Gene Ramey Drums: Jo Jones

This album on American Recording Society G-417: Discogs Wikipedia

Concert Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Birdland All-Stars

2 Nov 1956 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris

Trumpet: Miles Davis Piano: René Urtreger

Bass: Pierre Michelot Drums: Christian Garros

Concert Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Birdland All-Stars

7 Nov 1956 in Hamburg

Trumpet: Miles Davis Piano: René Urtreger / Bud Powell

Bass: Pierre Michelot Drums: Christian Garros

Concert Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Modern Jazz Quartet

12 Nov 1956 at the Stadthalle in Freiburg

Trumpet: Miles Davis

Modern Jazz Quartet:

Piano: John Lewis Vibes: Milt Jackson

Bass: Percy Heath Drums: Connie Kay

'Pennies From Heaven' Lester Young (tenor sax) w the Bill Potts (piano) Trio

7 or 8 Dec 1956 at Olivia Davis's Patio Lounge

Bass: Normal Williams Drums: Jim Lucht

Music: Arthur Johnston Lyrics: Johnny Burke 1936

Olivia Davis's Patio Lounge at 713 13th Street:

Discogs Michael Fitzgerald Washington City Paper

'Mean to Me' Lester Young (tenor sax) Television

25 Sep 1958 'Art Ford's Jazz Party'

Music: Fred Ahlert Lyrics: Roy Turk 1929

'There Will Never Be Another You' Lester Young (tenor sax)

4 March 1959

From Young's last album 'Le Dernier Message de Lester Young' on Barclay 84 069:

Discogs Jazzmessengers

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Mack Gordon 1942

Young gave his last performances in Paris in February and March of 1959 with drummer, Kenny Clarke. Those issued from sessions on March 11 on Philology 214W6 were his last-known issued recordings: 'There Will Never Be Another You' and 'I Cover the Waterfront'. 'Lullaby of Birdland' saw no release. Young died on 15 March 1959 of heart attack within hours of returning to New York City. Lester had basically drank himself to death like his long-time friend, Holiday, who died four months later.

Sources & References for the Lester Young:

Paul E. Anderson (Musician Guide)

Browse Biography

Donald Clarke (Music Box)

New World Encyclopedia

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow (All Music)