Artist profile · 04/07/2026
About
Lester Young, nicknamed "Prez," emerged from Woodville, Mississippi, and became a defining tenor saxophonist in jazz history. His playing offered an airy counterpoint to the dominant, aggressive saxophone style of the 1930s, contributing significantly to bebop and later cool jazz movements.
Young’s career included influential collaborations with Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic. Despite personal struggles, his recorded legacy remains a key reference for jazz vinyl collectors, with editions issued by labels such as BMG, Verve, Barclay, and Decca, spanning mono, stereo, and reissues.
Discography
Studio albums, live records, compilations and radio recordings. Each album groups all its editions.
Data provided by Discogs
Listen
There Will Never Be Another YouI Can't Get Started
These Foolish ThingsJust You, Just Me · 1961These Foolish Things - Remastered 1995StardustBlue Lester
Almost Like Being In LoveLe Dernier Message De Lester Young · 1959
On The Sunny Side Of The StreetTenor King · 1997Essentials
Our picks, approved by the editors.
#1 · 1961A seven-track 1961 mono LP, showcasing Lester's smooth and inventive bebop tenor sax.
#2 · 1959Rare 1959 French original pressing on Barclay label, highly sought after by collectors for its full 12-track session.
#3 · 1958An energetic 1958 Verve stereo album featuring 5 tracks, including the tribute "Salute To Benny."
Go further
Artists who share part of Lester Young's musical DNA.
B-side
Studio secrets, tour stories and B-sides worth the whole album.
Lester Willis Young was born on August 27, 1909, in Woodville and raised in a musical family with his father directing a minstrel band, eventually moving to New Orleans and Minneapolis during childhood.
In the late 1930s and 1940s, Young developed a close friendship with singer Billie Holiday, sharing a notable musical rapport that influenced many recordings and live performances together.
Following imprisonment for insubordination and narcotics during WWII military service, Young wrote "DB Blues (Detention Barracks Blues)" revealing his struggles and shaping his art post-war.
Young’s light, fluid tenor sax contrasted with harsher jazz styles, inspiring the 1950s cool jazz sound promoted by figures like Miles Davis.
He was known for never repeating a solo, a jazz ideal unparalleled at the time.— Jazz historians
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View on AmazonFAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Lester Young was an American jazz saxophonist nicknamed "Prez" by Billie Holiday, reflecting his status as a leading tenor sax player.
He was primarily a jazz musician associated with bebop and swing, influencing cool jazz as well.
Key albums include "Just You, Just Me" (1961), "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young" (1959, French pressing), and "Laughin' To Keep From Cryin'" (1958).
Yes, especially the 1959 French original pressing of "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young" which can sell around €800.
Many of his recordings have seen various mono and stereo reissues on labels like Verve, Barclay, and BMG.
He was born in Woodville, Mississippi, and grew up partly in New Orleans and Minneapolis.
His 1959 original album "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young" pressed in France is a rare collector’s item highly sought after by French audiophiles.
Look for original Barclay Mono pressings, such as the 1959 "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young," which have high collector interest and limited availability.
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