Lester Young

Lester Young
Lester Young
	Young (left) in 1944
Background information
Also known as	"Pres" or "Prez"
Born	Lester Willis Young; August 27, 1909; Woodville, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	March 15, 1959 (aged 49); New York City, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instruments	Tenor saxophone; alto saxophone; clarinet;
Years active	1933–1959
Labels	Verve; Commodore; Savoy; Pablo; Victor;
Formerly of	The Count Basie Orchestra; Fletcher Henderson's orchestra; The Andy Kirk band; Nat "King" Cole; Miles Davis; The Modern Jazz Quartet; The Bill Potts Trio;

Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez" (short for the "President of the tenor saxophone"), was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.

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.