Snooky Young was an American Jazz trumpeter and a true Jazz Legend, having worked with a number of notable artists, from Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter and Gerald Wilson, to Count Basie. Eugene “Snooky” Young sadly passed away on May 11th 2011, at the age of 92.

Speaking to The Times in 1992, saxophonist Bob Cooper said: “Snooky is one of the world’s all-time great trumpet players… I can always feel it in the sax section when he’s playing — his time, his interpretation of the material, his sound.” This is partially due to is master of the plunger mute, which allowed him to deliver a highly unique tone from his trumpet that is emulated to this day.

The video below features Snooky Young playing “T’Ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It)”, first made popular by Ella Fitzgerald. Accompanied by the Johnny Carson’s ‘Tonight Show’ band. This is a prime example of why he’s a Jazz Legend.