"Lester Leaps In" is a jazz standard originally recorded by Count Basie's Kansas City Seven in 1939.[1] 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.

Eddie Jefferson, pioneer of vocalese, wrote lyrics for the composition, calling his version "I Got the Blues".[2]

Critical acclaim

• "Lester Leaps In" is listed among the Milestone Recordings in American Music at the Three Perfect Minutes site.[3]
• jazz.com gives "Lester Leaps In" a 98, on a scale of 100 – "Classic performance. A 'must have' for jazz fans."[4]

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

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