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Home>Jazz Profiles - A to Z>Jazz profiles - "Y"
| Young Lee
drums (7/03/1917)
Lee was the brother of tenor saxophone legend Lester Young. Except for their love of music and baseball the brothers were totally opposite.
Lee was a leader, extroverted, the consummate business terrific golfer and a great drummer.
Young Lester
tenor sax (27/08/1909-15/03/1959)
Lester Young is the musician who many consider to be, next to Coleman Hawkins, the greatest tenor saxophonist of the classic jazz years.
Billie Holiday affectionately nick named Lester “The Pres” short for President
His unique tenor sound was “cool”, light toned and laid-back – and was a challenging alternative to Coleman Hawkins macho - full tone.
In 1934 Lester Young landed a job in Count Basie’s Band after he sent the leader a telegram, which Basie recalled as being “strange and urgent”.
Between stints with Basie, Lester played in numerous other big bands and groups.
Lester Young was renowned for his practical jokes, and had “nicknames” for many members of the Basie band, including “Sweets” for trumpeter Harry Edison.
Some of Lester’s best work can be heard on recordings with Billie Holiday, the singer who he had a long – lasting platonic relationship with. Billie passed away a few months after Lester died in 1959.
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