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What is 'Leaving Basie' for Lester Young
Lester Young left the Basie band in late 1940.
Why did Lester Young leave the Count Basie Orchestra?
Lester Young and drummer Jo Jones would stated Young's departure had been in the works for months.
How did Count Basie react to Lester Young's dismissal?
What did Lester Young do after he was dismissed?
Lester Young led a number of small groups that often included his brother, drummer Lee Young, for a couple of years.
What did Lester Young record with his small groups?
Live and broadcast recordings from the period Lester Young led a number of small groups that often included his brother, drummer Lee Young, for a couple of years exist.
Did Lester Young work with any other artists besides Count Basie, and his brother Lee Young?
Lester Young accompanied the singer Billie Holiday in a couple of studio sessions during 1937 - 1941 and made a small set of recordings with Nat King Cole in June 1942.
Are there any other interesting aspects about the Lester Young article?
In September 1944 Lester Young and Jo Jones were in Los Angeles with the Basie Band when they were inducted into the U.S. Army.
What happened after Lester Young was drafted?
Unlike many white musicians, who were placed in band outfits, Lester Young was assigned to the regular army where he was not allowed to play his saxophone.

Question: Why did he change to a plastic reed?
Self-contained rewrite: Why did Lester Young change to a plastic reed?