Lester Young
Tenor Sax Solo on
On The Sunny Side Of The Street

About

Lester Young's tenor saxophone solo is the sole improvisation on this warm, medium-tempo rendition of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" from The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Young takes one chorus over the 32-bar AABA form in C at a medium 105 BPM, crafting a melodic paraphrase of Jimmy McHugh's beloved 1930 standard. The relaxed tempo allows Young to deploy his most lyrical qualities, with space for the breathy tone and gently swinging phrases that made him one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz history. The single-chorus format keeps the performance intimate and focused.

Lester Young was 42 to 43 years old at the time.