Lester Young
Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.
Lester Young | |
|---|---|
Young (left) in 1944 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lester Willis Young |
| Also known as | "Pres" or "Prez" |
| Born | August 27, 1909 Woodville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | March 15, 1959 (aged 49) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet |
| Years active | 1933–1959 |
| Labels | |
Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what one critic called "a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull, banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike".
Known for his hip, introverted style, he invented or popularized much of the hipster jargon which came to be associated with the music.
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