Les Lieber

In

For 45 years, saxophonist Les Lieber has gathered his friends for the weekly Jazz at Noon at a bar in New York City.

Les and his friends do not earn their living as musicians — they’re just passionate about their hobby and also happen to be very talented players.

It’s become a New York institution, with its leader Les still taking the stage himself every Friday afternoon.

And the 99-year-old has no intentions of getting off the stage any time soon.

Les explains what inspired him to start this gathering nearly half a century ago and reveals some of the stars who have shared the stage with his group (perhaps the name Dizzy Gillespie rings a bell?).

Plus, as he flirts with 100, he tells us what he’s learned throughout his life and why he’s looking forward to helping the Jazz at Noon jam reach its 50th anniversary — in five years.