Les Spann

Who was Les Spann?

Leslie Spann, Jr. was an American jazz guitarist and flautist.

Spann was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States.

He studied flute and music education at Tennessee State University from 1950 to 1957. He then played with Phineas Newborn, Ronnell Bright, and Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he performed on two Verve Records albums. Spann toured Europe in 1959-61, playing with Quincy Jones, Abbey Lincoln, Ben Webster, Duke Ellington, and Johnny Hodges. He led a quintet for a recording in 1960; his sidemen for the session included Julius Watkins and Tommy Flanagan. He also recorded with Nat Adderley, Benny Bailey, Randy Weston, Curtis Fuller, Charlie Shavers, Red Garland, Jerome Richardson, Wild Bill Davis, Charles Mingus, Duke Pearson, Sonny Stitt, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis.