(From Wikipedia) Lester Willis
Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or
"Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional
clarinetist.
Coming to prominence while a
member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential
players on his instrument. In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young
played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what
one critic called "a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull,
banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike".
Known for his hip, introverted
style, he invented or popularized much of the hipster jargon which came to be
associated with the music.
