Pennies from Heaven – 1950
Lester Young
A rare video capturing the legendary Lester ‘Prez’ Young in action
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This rare 1950 film clip presents Lester Young performing the classic jazz standard “Pennies from Heaven” with a stellar rhythm section: Bill Harris on trombone, Hank Jones at the piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums. The footage was produced by Norman Granz during his experimental yet unreleased Improvisation project, captured in New York and released decades later.
Young delivers the melody with his signature light, lyrical tone and relaxed but inventive phrasing, a perfect example of his deeply melodic swing style. The interaction between his tenor sax and Harris’s trombone, supported by the rhythm section’s subtle propulsion, creates an intimate and timeless jazz moment.
This clip stands as one of the few surviving film documents showcasing Lester Young in full artistic form, offering an intimate glimpse into his mature improvisatory brilliance.
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