Lester Leaps Again (Original Recordings 1942-1944)

Released in 2005 by Naxos Jazz, this wonderful Lester Young sampler opens with four Aladdin sides recorded on July 15, 1942 with bassist Red Callender and pianist Nat King Cole, jumps to the Keynote session of December 28, 1943 with bassist Slam Stewart, pianist Johnny Guarnieri, and drummer Sid Catlett, then to four additional Keynotes cut on March 22, 1944 by the Kansas City Seven (with trumpeter Buck Clayton, trombonist Dicky Wells, pianist Count Basie, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Rodney Richardson, and drummer Jo Jones), then caps it with four titles waxed for the Savoy label on May 1, 1944 with Basie, Green, Richardson, and drummer Shadow Wilson. What you get here is Lester Young in his prime, surrounded by friendly and sympathetic peers, blowing some of the very best jazz of his entire career. What it amounts to is one of the most solid and well-presented Lester Young anthologies available anywhere. The 1942 and 1943 recordings are utterly essential and all 16 tracks are magnificent which is why you might want to seriously consider investing in this collection. It can and will make a difference in your life. ~ arwulf arwulf|