Harman Patil (Editor)

Lester Leaps In

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Released
  
1939

Genre
  
Jazz

Label
  
Vocalion 5118

Format
  
78 rpm

Length
  
3:12

Recorded
  
September 5, 1939, New York City, NY

"Lester Leaps In" is a jazz standard originally recorded by Count Basie's Kansas City Seven in 1939. The composition, credited to the group's tenor saxophone player Lester Young, is a head arrangement based on the chord progression of "I Got Rhythm", and serves as a vehicle for interweaving solos by Young and Basie.

Contents

Eddie Jefferson, pioneer of vocalese, wrote lyrics for the composition, calling his version "I Got the Blues".

Critical acclaim

  • "Lester Leaps In" is listed among the Milestone Recordings in American Music at the Three Perfect Minutes site.
  • jazz.com gives "Lester Leaps In" a 98, on a scale of 100 – "Classic performance. A 'must have' for jazz fans."

    • Personnel (original 1939 recording)

  • Count Basie - piano
  • Lester Young - tenor saxophone
  • Buck Clayton - trumpet
  • Dicky Wells - trombone
  • Freddie Green - guitar
  • Walter Page - bass
  • Jo Jones - drums

    • Other recordings

    In 1960 Harry James released a version on his album Harry James...Today (MGM E-3848).

    References

    Lester Leaps In Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA