Saxophonist Lester Young based his 1940 composition “Lester Leaps In” on the chord changes to George and Ira Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm,” a standard 32-bar, AABA song written a decade earlier. Jazz musicians, who have always found George Gershwin’s harmonies to offer ample opportunities for improvisation, have used these changes so often that they are referred to as simply “rhythm changes.” Young’s substitution of diatonic chords provides additional drama.

Young was nicknamed “Prez” or “Pres,” short for President of the Saxophone, by Billie Holiday. He wrote the tune while he was still with the Basie band which he left in December, 1940, to form his own small group. He recorded “Lester Leaps In” with a septet on September 5, 1939. His version is reminiscent of the swing style of the ‘30s. The song, which started as a “head arrangement,” was a part of the Basie band book for many years. Altoist Charlie Parker recorded an outstanding solo on the tune with Jazz at the Philharmonic in 1949.

In A New History of Jazz author Alyn Shipton says, “...Numerous commentators...have pointed out that, far from employing the kind of substitute harmonies beloved of [Coleman] Hawkins, Young sought to simplify or reduce the harmonic material in a tune.... Young’s solo on ‘Lester Leaps In,’ with Count Basie’s Kansas City Seven, includes numerous examples of his tendency to simplify; although to counterbalance the most minimal aspects of the solo there are several neatly executed runs, arpeggios, and fills, in which he moves airily around the tenor.

“Another major benefit of Young’s melodically driven approach to improvisation was that he tackled rhythm in a distinctly different way from Hawkins. Whereas Hawkins tended to construct rising and falling patterns of eighth notes, relying on harmonic complexity to provide interest, Young’s solo on ‘Lester Leaps In’ abounds with rhythmic variation. Some phrases enter exactly on the beat; others are delayed by an eighth note, or a quarter note. When a motif is repeated, it is often placed differently over the accompanying beat on each repetition, sometimes using a minute delay of anticipation.”

Vocalese pioneer Eddie Jefferson wrote a lyric for the tune and called it “I Got the Blues.” His performance is available on the CD Vocal Ease. Vocalist Giacomo Gates recorded “Lester Leaps In/I Got the Blues” on his 2004 CD Centerpiece. In the liner notes he says, “Eddie Jefferson’s take of Prez’s masterpiece...it’s James Moody’s solo that Eddie Jefferson wordified. It’s about being so wrapped up in someone that you’ll do anything to prove it, but she won’t let you, so...you got the blues.”

I’m thinkin’ ‘bout you, Baby
Let me take you in my arms and hold ya
I’d be so happy I wouldn’t know what to do,
I love you so much I can’t be without you.

Ella scatted through “Lester Leaps In” in two recorded performances in 1957. Since 1999 it has been recorded by pianist Monty Alexander, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the Gary Urwin Orchestra featuring Bill Watrous and Pete Christlieb, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, the group Pearl Django, drummer Scott Hamilton, violinist Johnny Frigo, bassist Ray Brown, and saxophonist Harry Allen.