Harry James Plays “Lester Leaps In”

One of the sure fire ways to end an LP is with "Lester Leaps In." The person addressed in the title was tenor saxist Lester Young who revolutionized a more intimate way of playing the instrument. Ernie Wilkins' makes it plain who it was that first recorded the work, Count Basie. There is tight unison work between guitar and Harry James on a percolating muted trumpet before the entire ensemble explodes with fire, inspiring James to take out the mute with a great fiery flare before the saxes take over with added momentum and urgency. A tenor saxist takes over in a challenge with another fellow saxist in a screaming challenge and response from the two combatants. Soon Harry James takes over with rapid fire single notes before flying off into one of great fluid performances that just builds inevitably in intensity into a wild coda that literally burns itself out in a brilliant blaze of sound.