| Lester Young was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He grew up in a musical family. His brother Lee, was a noted drummer, and several other relatives played music professionally. His family moved to New Orleans when Lester Young was an infant. His father taught him to play trumpet, violin, and drums in addition to the saxophone. He left the family band in 1927 because he refused to tour in the US South, where the Jim Crow Laws were in effect.
He rose to prominence in the 1930's, playing in a relaxed style which contrasted sharply with the aggressive approach of Coleman Hawkins, the dominant tenor player of the day. In fact, after he left Count Basie's band to replace Hawkins in Fletcher Henderson's band, his style annoyed Henderson's sidemen so much that he soon left to play with Andy Kirk. He later returned to star with Basie. |
