Lester Young: Lester Leaps In (1939)

Lester Young was the major influence on a generation of tenor saxophonists who preferred his relatively light, pure tone and agile swing to the husky heaviness of the once-dominant Coleman Hawkins. Even some alto players, such as Lee Konitz, Paul Desmond and Art Pepper, reflected Youngs musical values. Recorded with a small band extracted from the Count Basie Orchestra, Lester Leaps In, an up-tempo line over I Got Rhythm harmonies, was among the performances that so inspired his followers. Many of Youngs phrases heard here have shown up in the improvisations of saxophonists ever since.