Lester Young was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist whose style of playing influenced many jazz musicians of the post-World War II era. Young was one of the first to develop a style of playing which blended together elements of swing, blues, and bebop. He was known for his lyrical, gentle approach to improvisation, which was often described as “lightning in a bottle.” Young’s influence was felt in many forms of music, from the bebop of Charlie Parker to the cool jazz of Miles Davis. He was one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz history, and his influence is still felt today.
| Name | Lester Young |
| Born | August 27, 1909 |
| Genre | Jazz, Swing |
| Instruments | Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet |
| Years Active | 1926-1959 |
| Labels | National, Vocalion, Decca, Aladdin |
| Associated Acts | Count Basie, Billie Holiday |
10 Best Lester Young Quotes
“I don’t worry about innovating. I just play what I feel.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I’m a natural musician. I don’t think I ever took a lesson in my life.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I never practice. I just play what I feel.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I just wanna play music. That’s all. That’s what I live for.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I’m not a technician. I play by ear.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I’m a musician, not a business man. I just do what I like.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I don’t worry about what other people are doing. I just play what I feel.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I’m more of a feeling player than a technical player.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I don’t like to be a copycat. I just play what I feel.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
“I let the music speak for itself. That’s all I do.”
– Lester Young, from YouTube
6 Inspirational Lester Young Quotes
“I want people to feel my music, not just hear it.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I’m just interested in making music, whether it’s jazz or not.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“My soloing isn’t improvised; it’s planned.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I’m not a musician. I’m just a guy that plays a horn.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“My music is a reflection of my life.”
– Lester Young, from NPR
“I just want to make music that makes people feel good.”
– Lester Young, from NPR
5 Famous Lester Young Quotes
“The first time I ever heard him [Duke Ellington], I was just knocked out. I thought it was the greatest thing I ever heard in my life. I was about sixteen, seventeen years old.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I try to play the truth of what I am. The way I feel. I have to play me.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I try to play something different from what I hear other people play. I try to be an individual.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I’m an individualist. I don’t care for the way other people do it. I’m not in this business to copy anybody. I’m in it to do my own thing.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I don’t like to hear many chords because I can’t remember them.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
8 Lester Young Quotes About Love
“Love is the greatest thing that you can have.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is the greatest thing in the world. Love is the only thing that can make you happy.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is the only thing that matters.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is all that counts.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is the only thing that will last forever.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is the only thing that matters in life.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is the most important thing in life.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Love is the key to happiness.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
7 Lester Young Quotes About Life
“I think that a man should try to live his life so that he can look any man in the face and tell him to go to hell.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I don’t know what the world’s comin’ to, but it’s comin’ to something.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“If I don’t like something, I don’t play it.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“Music is a way of life, an expression of the soul.”
– Lester Young, from Lester Young.org
“I don’t worry about anything, I just let things happen as they will.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“I don’t believe in trying to copy anybody else, because people are too different, and everybody has their own thing that they do best.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
“If I couldn’t play, I’d be a cook. I like to cook.”
– Lester Young, from All About Jazz
6 Quotes About Lester Young
“Lester Young was the most influential tenor saxophonist of the swing era and one of the most important figures in jazz history.”
– All About Jazz, from All About Jazz
“Lester Young was the leader, the innovator, the trendsetter, the trendsetter, the teacher, the father, the Godfather, the ultimate in cool.”
– Jazz Professional, from Jazz Professional
“Young’s solos, with their distinctive sound, melodic inventiveness, and rhythmic flexibility, remain among the most beautiful and influential in jazz.”
– Encyclopedia Britannica, from Encyclopedia Britannica
“Lester Young was a major influence on the tenor saxophone, changing the way it was played. He was one of the first to use a lighter, more lyrical approach.”
– Jazz Times, from Jazz Times
“Young was a master of understatement, a stylistic innovator whose warm, airy sound, lyrical, ever-swinging solos, and subtle improvisational approach were a major influence on later generations of jazz saxophonists.”
– National Endowment for the Arts, from National Endowment for the Arts
“Lester Young was one of the most important figures in jazz history, and his influence on jazz saxophone playing is still felt today.”
– JazzMando, from JazzMando
Interview with Lester Young
Frequently Asked Questions About Lester Young
1. What are some of the most famous quotes by Lester Young?
Lester Young, also known as “Pres” or “Prez” was an American jazz saxophonist who was known for his innovative approach to playing music. He was a major influence in the development of bebop, and his legacy and influence can still be seen in modern jazz. Here are some of his most famous quotes:
- “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”
- “You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.”
- “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.”
- “Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time.”
- “If you don’t feel it, you can’t play it.”
- “The only thing better than playing is not playing.”
2. What was the source of Lester Young’s inspiration for his quotes?
Lester Young was an American jazz musician known for his unique style and his famous quotes. He often used his words to express his ideas about the music and his own life. So, what was the source of his inspiration for his quotes?
- His Own Life Experiences: Young was a well-traveled musician, and he drew on his own experiences for his quotes. He often referenced the places he visited, the people he met, and the things he saw. He used these experiences to create unique and thought-provoking quotes.
- The Music: Music was a huge part of Young’s life. He used it as a way to express himself and to make a statement. His quotes often reflected his views on the music and its potential. He also used music as an opportunity to share his own thoughts and emotions.
- The People Around Him: Young was known for his wit and charm, and he often used those traits to come up with his quotes. He was inspired by the people he interacted with, from fellow jazz musicians to everyday people. He was able to turn their conversations into memorable quotes.
- His Own Imagination: Young had an active imagination and was able to come up with creative quotes out of thin air. He often used his own thoughts and ideas to craft his quotes, which made them unique and captivating.
These were the sources of inspiration for Lester Young’s quotes. He used his own life experiences, his music, the people around him, and his own imagination to come up with his memorable words. His quotes remain popular to this day and continue to inspire people.
3. What does Lester Young’s quote “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” mean?
One of the most iconic and well known quotes attributed to jazz saxophonist Lester Young is “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”. This phrase was originally written in the 1930s and has become a popular phrase in jazz circles. This quote is often used to emphasize the importance of improvisation and swing in jazz music.
In its most basic form, the quote means that no matter how technically proficient a musician is or how beautiful a piece of music is, if it doesn’t have the swing and feel of jazz, it’s not worth listening to. It’s the swing and feel of jazz that brings the music alive and makes it enjoyable to listen to.
The phrase can also be interpreted as a reminder that jazz music is not just about technical skill or playing the notes correctly, but rather about having a feel for the music and playing it with passion and emotion. It’s about finding the groove and having the ability to improvise and express oneself. Without that “swing”, jazz music is just notes on a page.
The quote can also be taken as a reminder that jazz music is not only about playing solo, but also about playing together as a band. It’s about musicians working together to create something special and unique. Without the “swing”, the music is nothing more than a collection of individual parts.
In summary, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” is a reminder to jazz musicians that the music is about more than just technical proficiency and playing the notes correctly. It’s about having a feel for the music, improvisation, and playing together as a band. Without the swing, the music is nothing more than a collection of individual parts.
4. What is the significance of Lester Young’s quote “A genius is the one most like himself”?
The quote “A genius is the one most like himself” by legendary jazz musician Lester Young is a powerful reminder that we should strive to be our unique selves. It emphasizes that true genius is found in the individual and that it’s important to be authentic and embrace our own unique abilities, quirks, and interests.
The quote also implies that it’s better to be true to oneself rather than imitate the style of another. Young was known for his unique sound and style, and this quote appears to be a reflection of his commitment to his own musical vision and individualism.
The quote encourages people to develop their own creativity and be brave enough to express it. It suggests that people should not be afraid to be themselves and to follow their own paths.
- The quote encourages individuals to be true to themselves and embrace their own unique abilities, quirks, and interests.
- It implies that it’s better to be true to oneself rather than imitate the style of another.
- The quote suggests that people should not be afraid to be themselves and to follow their own paths.
- It encourages people to develop their own creativity and be brave enough to express it.
5. What is the Historical Context of Lester Young’s Quotes?
Lester Young is one of the most influential jazz musicians in history. His contributions to the genre have left an indelible mark on the music landscape, and his quotes continue to inspire musicians and fans to this day. To understand the significance of these quotes, it is important to understand the historical context in which they were said.
- Young was born in Woodville, Mississippi in 1909, and was raised in a musical family. His father, Willis Handy Young, was a professional trombonist, and his mother, Laura Young, was a gospel singer.
- Young’s career began in the 1920s when he joined the territory bands of Kansas City. He quickly rose to fame among the jazz musicians of the area, and soon gained the nickname “Pres” due to his influence as a leader.
- In 1936, Young joined the Count Basie Orchestra, with whom he would remain for the rest of his career. His playing style was characterized by a light, lyrical touch and a strong sense of swing. He was also known for his wit and wisdom, which he often shared in interviews and through his music.
- Young died in 1959 at the age of 49. He left behind a legacy as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, and his quotes remain an inspiration to musicians and fans alike.
By understanding the history behind Young’s quotes, we can appreciate the significance of his words and the impact they have had on the world of jazz music.
Conclusion
Lester Young is a beloved jazz musician who has had a lasting impact on the world of jazz. His quotes provide a glimpse into his creative process and the way he viewed the world. Young’s words are still relevant today and serve as a reminder to embrace creativity, learn from mistakes, and live life to the fullest. His legacy as an artist lives on through his timeless music and his inspirational words.
