Gelly/Being Prez, 5. Jumpin’ at the woodside

We must always remember that Lester Young’s recording career began at the relatively advanced age of twenty-seven, when he was already at the height of his powers. When he walked into ARC’s Chicago studio in November 1936 he was in possession of the equivalent of a poetic ‘voice’, the innumerable points of style which go to make a unique and consistent mode of expression. It was the suddenness of his arrival as much as anything that caused the initial consternation. People were simply not prepared for a voice not only so different from what they were used to, but so complete, confident and uncompromising. It is not at all surprising that his playing first found favour with young people, like the teenaged Al Cohn. They lacked preconceptions.