Release Date: 01 July 2018
Label: Essential Jazz Classics
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 8436559465502
Genres: Jazz
Description
This release presents the great Lester Young's complete sessions for the small Aladdin label, which were made right after the saxophonist's release from prison and dishonourable discharge from the U.S. Army. Althoughlegend has it he was never the same after his experiences in the military, Young's playing throughout these recordings exceeds even his own high standards.
While Lester's Army experiences undoubtedly left their mark on the saxophonist, it would be incorrect to state that all of his troubles began at that time. Being subjected to strict treatment (in which racism played an important role) was certainly hard on Lester. However, it is also true that he was a complex person with strong self-destructive impulses. However, his playing here is superb in most cases, and his interaction with other great musicians like Nat King Cole, Dodo Marmarosa, Joe Albany, Argonne Thornton (who later changed his name to Sadik Hakim), Willie Smith, Howard McGhee and his Basie companion Vic Dickenson proves to be very effective. As a bonus to the Aladdin sessions, we have included the other studio session by Lester with Nat King Cole, recorded for Norman Granz for his label Norgran in 1946.
Tracklisting
Various
Various
Tina Brooks Quintet
Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Aderley & George Shearing
Stan Getz
Steve Lacy
Booker Little
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
Lester Young & Oscar Peterson
Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Young Quartet
Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Young
