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While the jazz critic jury seems to still be out concerning the musical worth of Lester Young's post-World War II recordings, this 17-track collection brings together the tracks and solos that are generally perceived as the yardstick of Prez's genius. All recorded between 1936 to 1943, Young is strictly a sideman in the eight different configurations presented here, but he quietly dominates the proceedings with his bounty of ideas and beautiful playing throughout. Beginning with the Jones/Smith Incorporated track of "Shoe Shine Boy," and moving on to Count Basie's "Lester Leaps In," and an excerpt from Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall concert appearance in 1938 on "Honeysuckle Rose" (focusing on Young's solo but utilizing a splice that proves that Gene Krupa rushed the beat on this 11-minute-plus track), Lester simply shines on every track, a fountainhead of moods, ideas and phrasing that's sublime. His work behind Billie Holiday on "All of me," "The Man I Love" and "I Must Have That Man" shows how extraordinary he was in backing a vocalist and extending the melody line for every song. No matter how the naysayers will critique his later work, the material collected on this disc is above reproach and a major chunk of jazz history.
© Cub Koda /TiVo
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Lester Young, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Tenor Saxophone, Associated Performer, Tenor Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Lester Young with Count Basie & His Orchestra, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - Sammy Cahn, Composer, Lyricist - Count Basie, Piano - Saul Chaplin, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Page, Bass - Carl Smith, Trumpet
Originally released 1936. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie & His Orchestra; with Lester Young, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Jimmy Rushing - Pinetop Smith, Composer - Jo Jones, Drums - William Count Basie, Piano - Walter Page, Bass - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Carl Smith, Trumpet
Originally released 1936. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billie Holiday, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Irving Berlin, Composer, Lyricist - Freddie Green, Guitar - Jo Jones, Drums - Teddy Wilson, Piano - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Goodman, Clarinet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet
Originally released 1937. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billie Holiday, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - John Hammond, Producer - D. Fields, Composer, Lyricist - Bernie Hanighen, Producer - Allan Reus, Guitar - Jimmy McHugh, Composer, Lyricist - Cozy Cole, Drums - Teddy Wilson, Piano - Walter Page, Bass - Vido Musso, Tenor Saxophone - Prince Robinson, Clarinet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet
Originally released 1937. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Benny Goodman, Associated Performer, Clarinet, Main Artist, Associated Performer, Clarinet - Lester Young, Main Artist, Tenor Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - James Isaacs, Producer - Gene Krupa, Drums - Fats Waller, Composer, Lyricist - Count Basie, Piano - Andy Razaf, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Page, Bass - Johnny Hodges, Alto Saxophone - Wilbur "Buck" Clayton, Trumpet - Harry James, Trumpet - Vernon Brown, Trombone
(P) Originally Released 1938 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Basie's Bad Boys, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Sam Coslow, Composer, Lyricist - Jo Jones, Drums - Arthur Johnston, Composer, Lyricist - Count Basie, Organ, Piano - Walter Page, Bass - Lester Young, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Shad Collins, Trumpet
Originally recorded 1939 & released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie And His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Count Basie, Composer, Lyricist, Piano - Freddie Green, Guitar - Jo Jones, Drums - Henry Edison, Composer, Lyricist - Larry Keyes, Engineer - Walter Page, Bass - Earl Warren, Alto Saxophone - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Dan Minor, Trombone - Benny Morton, Trombone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Glenn Hardman & His Hammond Five, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Jimmy McHugh, Composer - Jo Jones, Drums - Dorothy Fields, Composer - Glenn Hardman, Piano - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Lee Castle, Trumpet
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie And His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - B. Macdonald, Composer, Lyricist - Jo Jones, Drums - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Count Basie, Piano - J.Meyer, Composer, Lyricist - B. Rose, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Page, Bass - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - George "Buddy" Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Benny Morton, Trumpet - William "Dickie" Wells, Trombone - Dan Minor, Trombone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Count Basie's Kansas City Seven, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - C. Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Piano - L.Young, Composer - Walter Page, Bass - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Young, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Tenor Saxophone, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Tenor Saxophone - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Walter Page, Bass - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Young, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Tenor Saxophone, Associated Performer, Tenor Saxophone - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Composer, Lyricist - Glenn Hardman, Piano - Lee Castle, Trumpet
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - George Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Billie Holiday - Freddie Green, Guitar - Jo Jones, Drums - Joe Sullivan, Piano - Walter Page, Bass - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - John Hammond, Producer - Bernie Hanighen, Producer
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - S. Oliver, Composer - Count Basie, Piano - J. Young, Composer - Jimmy Mundy, Arranger - Walter Page, Bass - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Al Killian, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Vic Dickenson, Trombone - Dan Minor, Trombone
(P) Originally Released 1940 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - Kim Gannon, Composer - Count Basie, Piano - Joseph Myrow, Composer - Gene Irwin, Composer - Jimmy Mundy, Arranger - Walter Page, Bass - Don Redman, Arranger - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Tab Smith, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Al Killian, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Vic Dickenson, Trombone - Dan Minor, Trombone
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - G.Marks, Composer, Lyricist - S.Simons, Composer, Lyricist - Kenny Clarke, Drums - Eddie Heywood, Piano - Ted Sturgis, Bass - Les Johnakins, Alto Saxophone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Eddie Barefield, Trumpet - James Isaacs, Producer
(P) Originally Released 1941 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Lester Young, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Tenor Saxophone, Associated Performer, Tenor Saxophone - James Isaacs, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - George Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Ellis Larkins, Piano - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Al Hall, Bass - Bill Coleman, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone
Originally Released 1944 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
While the jazz critic jury seems to still be out concerning the musical worth of Lester Young's post-World War II recordings, this 17-track collection brings together the tracks and solos that are generally perceived as the yardstick of Prez's genius. All recorded between 1936 to 1943, Young is strictly a sideman in the eight different configurations presented here, but he quietly dominates the proceedings with his bounty of ideas and beautiful playing throughout. Beginning with the Jones/Smith Incorporated track of "Shoe Shine Boy," and moving on to Count Basie's "Lester Leaps In," and an excerpt from Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall concert appearance in 1938 on "Honeysuckle Rose" (focusing on Young's solo but utilizing a splice that proves that Gene Krupa rushed the beat on this 11-minute-plus track), Lester simply shines on every track, a fountainhead of moods, ideas and phrasing that's sublime. His work behind Billie Holiday on "All of me," "The Man I Love" and "I Must Have That Man" shows how extraordinary he was in backing a vocalist and extending the melody line for every song. No matter how the naysayers will critique his later work, the material collected on this disc is above reproach and a major chunk of jazz history.
© Cub Koda /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:22
- Main artists: Lester Young
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Jazz
Originally Released 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, (P) 1997 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. WARNING: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
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