Lester Leaps In

"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 contrafact based on the chord progression of "I Got Rhythm", and serves as a vehicle for interweaving solos by Young and Basie.

"Lester Leaps In"
Single by Count Basie's Kansas City Seven
Released	1939
Recorded	September 5, 1939, New York City, NY
Genre	Jazz
Length	3:12
Label	Vocalion 5118
Songwriter(s)	Lester Young

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).