Book description
The Life and Times of Lester "Pres" Young
The acclaimed biography of the legendary tenor saxophonist
"Lester Leaps In jumps off the page with authenticity and insight. The Prez was an amazing creator with a uniquely wicked sense of humor, and this book captures it all."
—Quincy Jones
"Twenty years…
Why read it?
1 author picked Lester Leaps in as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Billie Holiday’s musical soul mate was Lester Young, the iconoclastic tenor saxophone player who had a sound like no one else in his generation. His sound was so unique he had a profound influence on future saxophonists; he called his disciples “my children.”
In this book, Douglas Henry Daniels has written a well-researched, beautifully rendered portrait that captures the essence of Young, the musician with whom Billie Holiday most loved to sing. The end of the book, showing the culmination of a life of substance abuse and societal conflict, is especially poignant.
From Paul's list on The best jazz books about people important to Billie Holiday.
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