Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Lester Young

Hailed as "the President of all the tenors", Lester Young revolutionised saxophone playing with the Count Basie band. Geoffrey Smith picks highlights from his post-Basie career in the 1940s and 50s.

First broadcast 23/03/2013.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 22 Feb 2015 00:00
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Charlie Parker

Next

Coleman Hawkins

See all episodes from Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

Music Played

  • Lester Young

    When You're Smiling

    Composer: Shay, Goodwin, Fisher Performers: Buck Clayton, t; Benny Morton, tb; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, v. January 1938

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1129. Tr.8 (2.47).

  • Lester Young

    Lester Leaps In

    Composer: Young Performers: Buck Clayton, t; Dickie Wells, tb; Lester Young, ts; Count Basie, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. September 1939

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1130; Tr.2 (3.13).

  • Lester Young

    Sometimes I'm Happy

    Composer: Caesar, Youmans Performers: Lester Young, ts; Johnny Guarneri, p; Slam Stewart, b; Sid Catlett, d. December 1943

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1131. Tr. 1 (3.03).

  • Lester Young

    Three Little Words

    Composer: Kalmar, Ruby Performers: Lester Young, ts; Bill Coleman, t; Dickie Wells, tb; Joe Bushkin, p; John Simmons, b; Jo Jones, d. March 1944

    • Kansas City, 5, 6 & 7 1938 - 1944.
    • Classics.
    • Classics 912. Tr.14 (2.51).

  • Lester Young

    I Got Rhythm

    Composer: Gershwin Performers: Lester Young, ts; Dickie Wells, tb; Bill Coleman, t; Ellis Larkins, p; Freddie Green, g; Al Hall, b; Jo Jones, d. December 1943.

    • The Jazz and Vocal Collection.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 568. Tr. 17 (4.11).

  • Lester Young

    Ghost of a Chance

    Composer: Young, Washington, Crosby Performers: Lester Young, ts; Freddie Green, g; Count Basie, p; Rodney Richardson, b; Shadow Wilson, d. May 1944

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1131. Tr. 11 (3.21).

  • Lester Young

    D.B. Blues

    Composer: Young, Beaks Performers: Lester Young, ts; Vic Dickenson, tb; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Red Callender, b; Henry Tucker Green, d. December 1945

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1131. Tr. 14 (2.59).

  • Lester Young

    I Want to be Happy

    Composer: Caesar, Youmans Performers: Lester Young, ts; Nat King Cole, p; Buddy Rich, d. December 1945

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1131. Tr. 21 (3.56).

  • Jazz at The Philharmonic

    I Got Rhythm

    Composer: G & I Gershwin Performers: Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, ts; Buck Clayton, t; Charlie Parker, Willie Smith, as; Kenny Kersey, p; Irving Ashby, g; Billy Hardnott, b; Buddy Rich, d. April 1946

    • Jazz at the Philharmonic: The First Ten Years.
    • Proper.
    • P1425. CD2, Tr.3 (extract, 2.00).

  • Lester Young

    Jumpin' with Symphony Sid

    Composer: Young, Beaks Performers: Lester Young, ts; Argonne Thornton, p; Fred Lacy, g; Rodney Richardson, b; Lyndell Marshall, d. February 1947

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1132. Tr. 8 (3.09).

  • Lester Young

    Ad-lib Blues

    Composer: Young Performers: Lester Young, ts; Oscar Peterson, p; Barney Kessel, g; Ray Brown, b; J.C. Heard, d. November 1952

    • The President Plays with The Oscar Peterson Trio.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • LHJ 10326. Tr.1 (5.51).

  • Lester Young

    This Year's Kisses

    Composer: Berlin Performers: Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Roy Eldridge, t; Vic Dickenson, tb; Freddie Green, g; Gene Ramey, b; Jo Jones, d. January 1956

    • Jazz Giants ‘56.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • LHJ10330. Tr.4 (6.42).

  • Lester Young

    All of Me

    Composer: Simmons, Marks Performers: Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Gene Ramey, b; Jo Jones, d. January 1956

    • Pres and Teddy.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • LHJ10327. Tr.1 (5.05).

  • Lester Young

    When You're Smiling

    Performer: Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra. Performer: Billie Holiday.
    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • 8.

  • Count Basie, Count Basie & Lester Young

    Lester Leaps In

    • Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • 2.

  • Lester Young

    Sometimes I'm Happy

    Performer: Lester Young Quartet. Performer: Johnny Guarneri.
    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • 1.

  • LESTER YOUNG KANSAS CITY SIX & Lester Young

    Three Little Words

    • Kansas City 5, 6 & 7.
    • Classics.
    • 14.

  • Dicky Wells and His Orchestra & Lester Young

    I Got Rhythm

    • THE JAZZ AND VOCAL COLLECTION.
    • AVID.
    • 17.

  • Shadow Wilson, Freddie Green, Rodney Richardson, Count Basie, Lester Young & Lester Young

    Ghost of A Chance

    • Lester Leaps Again.
    • Proper.
    • 11.

  • Lester Young

    D.B.Blues

    Performer: Lester Young. Performer: Lester Young and His Band.
    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • 14.

  • Lester Young-Buddy Rich Trio, Lester Young & Lester Young

    I Want To Be Happy

    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper.
    • 21.

  • Jazz at The Philharmonic

    I Got Rhythm

    • Jazz at the Philharmonic - The First Ten Years.
    • Properbox.
    • 3.

  • Lester Young

    Jumpin' With Symphony Sid

    Performer: Lester Young. Performer: Lester Young and His Band.
    • The Lester Young Story.
    • Proper Box Uk.
    • 8.

  • Lester Young

    Ad-lib Blues

    Performer: Lester Young. Performer: Lester Young and His Band.
    • Lester Young the President Plays with The Oscar Peterson Trio.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • 1.

  • Lester Young

    This Year's Kisses

    Performer: TEDDY WILSON ORCHESTRA. Performer: Billie Holiday.
    • Jazz Giants 1956.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • 4.

  • Lester Young

    All of Me

    Performer: JOE JONES. Performer: Teddy Wilson. Performer: Lester Young. Performer: Lester Young. Performer: Gene Ramey.
    • Pres and Teddy: The Lester Young Teddy Wilson Quartet.
    • Verve.
    • 1.

Broadcasts

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music