Lester Leaps In

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

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

Critical acclaim

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

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).