One of the great jazz masters, Lester Young fundamentally changed the way the saxophone was played, setting the standard for all modern players. Renowned British critic Gelly followed Young through his life in a rapidly changing world, showing how the music of this exceptionally sensitive man was shaped by his experiences.

Dave Gelly is the weekly jazz critic for The Observer and contributes to many other British periodicals. Named Jazz Writer of the Year in the 1999 British Jazz Awards, Gelly has hosted a weekly radio show, has contributed to many books on jazz, has written liner notes for most major jazz record labels, and is the author of Stan Getz: Nobody Else But Me. He was invested with the MBE by HM The Queen in 2005. He is also professional saxophonist.