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Lester Young

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@ National Portrait Gallery

Description

When Billie Holiday nicknamed Lester Young “the President”––or “Prez” for short­­––she paid tribute to the superior musicianship of one of jazz’s most influential innovators. A tenor saxophonist with an airy and melodic style, Young first rose to prominence in the mid-1930s during his association with Count Basie’s band. Between 1937 and 1946, his recordings with Holiday––which included memorable tracks such as “All of Me” (1941)––furthered his reputation. During the postwar period, Young became a foundational figure in the cool jazz movement, inspiring a new generation of musicians—including Charlie Parker and Stan Getz—with his lyricism.In a departure from his usual mode of photographing musicians, Herman Leonard evoked Young’s presence with a still-life composition. Created when Young stepped away to begin a recording session, the artful arrangement features the musician’s well-worn instrument case, trademark “porkpie” hat, sheet music for “All of Me,” and his lighted cigarette balanced atop a Coke bottle.Cuando Billie Holiday bautizó a Lester Young “the President” (“Prez”), quiso con ello rendir homenaje a la genial maestría musical de este influyente innovador del jazz. Saxofonista tenor de estilo sutil y melodioso, Young se dio a conocer a mediados de la década de 1930, cuando estuvo tocando con la banda de Count Basie. Entre 1937 y 1946, sus grabaciones con Holiday (tan memorables como “All of Me”, de 1941) consolidaron su reputación. En el período de posguerra, Young se convirtió en figura fundacional del movimiento del cool jazz, inspirando con su lirismo a una nueva generación de músicos, entre ellos Charlie...
Type:
Image
Format:
Selenium Toned Gelatin Silver Print
Rights:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
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National Portrait Gallery

Record Harvested From

Smithsonian Institution