Still marveling at Lester Young...

[Konrad]

I keep coming back to this guy. I'm primarily interested in blues/blues rock--I think I probably started the sax too late to ever get anywhere in jazz--but Lester Young is really something. He seems to always play the perfect note--by that I mean the runs are logical while remaining interesting.

Not a lot of tricks or altissimo, growling, etc. Practically none, I guess, but the guy is just amazing. The Lester Young Trio would have been something to see.

[gary]

Yep - and his rhythmic sense is also uncanny. I'm still amazed at how a phrase will sound symetrical and then if you transcribe it you see how shifted the rhythmic phrase is. The man was pure genius.

[Ritchie]

One of the truly original sax voices in jazz! Generations of players have learned from him, and I guess they still will for some time.

[Morry]

I've never listened to Mr. Young. Can someone recommend a particular recording?

[gary]

For starters, get hold of the first recording of Count Basie which go under the name of "Jones-Smith, Inc." Lester Young burns. Check out "Shoeshine Boy".

There are many compilations under many names, so you probably have to send an e-mail to a record company (like Justin Time Records) and ask them for the recording, or do a Google search. But these are the classic recordings of Lester Young that Charlie Parker and others of his generation memorized.

You can likely find compilations with the early Basie recordings as well as some other combo recordings. I've got several but they're European and many such compilations are only current until the next one comes out, so I don't think that'll help you for me to give you the info. Savoy and Verve have some good combo work with him, perticularly with the Oscar Peterson Trio and Sweets Edison, and with Nat Cole and Buddy Rich.

[LennyH]

Morry, Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio is a great one to start with.

[SonnyMurphy]

Morry -
Glad to hear you're knocked out by Lester... 8)
I would definitely check out the late thirties stuff by Lester first: especially the Kansas City Sessions and other small group recordings. There's some great stuff on the "Spirituals To Swing" concert w/Benny Goodman and Charley Christian. As a lover of blues you'll appreciate this. Then the Billlie Holiday stuff in the thirties as well as with Count Basie.
The Keynote sessions in the 40's is a great one. Then the Aladdin Sessions in 1945. There a some great trio recordings with Nat King Cole and Red Callendar around 1942.....mmmmm!
Although he's always great the shame of it is that he loses a bit of timing and tone after say, 1946 (due to health problems) - and yet, records from the later era are the most available, and this is the only Lester some people will ever hear.
There are some great compilations of his early stuff out now, though...
one called "Easy Does It" comes to mind.
Hope this helps!
(you can see I'm a fanatic :oops: )

[SonnyMurphy]

Sorry Konrad! That previous would be addressed to you as well! :oops:

[Konrad]

That's all right.

Actually, the Lester/Holliday compilations are really something. Great songs, and the guy comes up with solos that are pretty damn unbelievable. Like I said, he never growls or whistles, but it's not as straight ahead as it seems.

The Lester Young Trio CD is also a favourite. I'm not as wild about the Basie stuff, maybe because I have not heard good quality recordings.

[RS]

I have really gotten to appreciate Prez's playing in recent years. The light clean sound he got was to me the first "modern" tenor sax sound in jazz. Also, now when I listen to players like Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Wardell Gray, etc., I can appreciate the major impact that he had on the developement of jazz tenor sax.

[SonnyMurphy]

I remember reading in a book somewhere a quote from Dexter Gordon talking about how Lesters solos were so swinging, melodic and songlike that all the hepcats would hanging out streetcorners of Los Angeles singing them to each other back in the early 40's.
Getz said that Lester's tenor solos on Them There Eyes from that first 1938 Kansas City Sessions were one of the main inspirations to his style.
Paul Desmond, on the other hand, was influenced by Lester's clarinet solos on that session.
Oh yes: there's VERY good compilation (box set, if you want to shellout)
of Lester called the "The Lester Young Story" on the Proper Box label.

[gary]

Lesters solos were so swinging, melodic and songlike that all the hepcats would hanging out streetcorners of Los Angeles singing them to each other

Verrry influencial. I've got a recording of Yardbird playing in a hotel room with, I believe, someone playing rhythm on a suitcase; might've been a guitarist also; can't remember. Anyway Bird's opening chorus is practically verbatum from Lester Young's solo on "Shoeshine Boy" from his first record with Basie.

[Tom Fisher]

I agree with everything said about the great Lester Young on this thread. Try copy-playing anything (off a CD etc.) that he seemingly played so effortlessly - even the slow ballads like 'Stardust' - and it soon becomes clear that it takes a lot of hard-earned technique just to make it flow like he does, let alone sound tonally like he does. What an incredible, influential and original talent and what a terrible tragedy that he suffered so much in his life, let himself go really - and died so young.

Like SonnyMurphy said - you can tell I'm a Lester fanatic too and always will be. If you can get hold of the compilation CD set of all the Verve recordings he made, it's well worth the steep price.

[gary]

Just a comment on his later recordings. There is still a lot of print and misunderstanding out there that, because of his military experience in WWII he was never the same again and his playing deteriorated. In the late 40's and 50's this was pretty much accepted as gospel in the critical press. Don't believe it.

Some of the later recordings are better than others, not all consistently excellent, but those that are good are as good as anything he ever recorded;some of it just more subtile, some if it swingingl mightily. Not only does the music speak for itself, but many of his colleagues from the latter period testify that there were times when his playing was phenonimal and that he was a precurser if bebop, itself.

He is the epitome of swing and cool. Lester Lives!

[SonnyMurphy]

Gary - I don't mean to dis the later recordings of Lester: you're right, there are some absolute gems til the very end. I love "This Years Kisses" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" with Teddy Wilson et al in the fifties.
I just get bothered that people aren't hip to the earlier stuff - partly because of the glut of later (stereo) recordings, with "modern" "big name" rhythm sections. Also, there are far more recordings made in Lester's name only in the later years. So many people who are not taken by these recordings wonder what "all the fuss is about".
I think this is situation similar to the Billie Holiday recordings - for me, her best stuff is the earlier; not because I prefer the swing style, but her voice is so clear and buoyant. The great percentage of people with no knowledege of jazz history will ONLY hear the later stuff because it is so much more available, with more well-known modern musicians backing her. Again, people will say that her life experience matured her and that it transcends her later vocal limitations. I say, respectfully, check out Billie from 1936-1946 if you haven't heard her....sorry to digress

[Lenny]

I also appreciate Lester more & more as I get older. He's just unendingly inventive, both melodically & rhythmically whether its ballads or hard swingin blues. I like his stuff in the late 40's probably the best. I had record called Prez that's now out of print that I listen to over & over on tape - some of it is on Lester Swings.

[MandoPaul]

I've been starting to listen to the Billy Holiday 30s-40s recordings. What else are good things to pick up in the pre-war Lester Young vein?

[SonnyMurphy]

The best compilation of "pre-war" Lester I've seen is
"The Lester Young Story" box set. If this is too hefty (but it's got it all!) you might try...
Lester Young The "Kansas City" Sessions (Way Down Yonder In New Orleans)
The Alladdin Collection that includes the (1942?) prewar session with Nat King Cole
Charlie Christian v.4 - has some of the greatest small group stuff w. Lester and Benny Goodman as well: all in peak form.
Easy Does It (another wide ranging excellent compilation)
Keynote sessions - w. Sid Catlett eta al. (Sometimes I'm Happy, Afternoon of a Basie-ite etc.)
also
The Spirituals To Swing Concert: Carnegie Hall 1938 has some beautiful Lester Young in an uncluttered, small group setting.
...don't get me goin' :)

[MandoPaul]

The best compilation of "pre-war" Lester I've seen is
"The Lester Young Story" box set.

Is this the Proper label 4 CD set?

Charlie Christian v.4 - has some of the greatest small group stuff w. Lester and Benny Goodman as well: all in peak form.


I may even have this. I love Charlie Christian.

Thanks for the pointers so far. You don't have to restrain yourself as far as I'm concerned. :)

[SonnyMurphy]

Thanks MandoPaul -
Right, that's the "Proper" label.
The Charlie Christian sessions I have on record so I don't know all the current sources. Yeah, wouldn't have been great if Christian and Lester had formed their own quartet? Would probably have needed a disciplinarian in the band :P
Another "record" I've thought of is the "Jammin' the Blues" soundtrack. Made in the early forties by (Hungarian) film-maker Gjon Mili - the movie features some great Lester on film w. Illinois Jacquet, Barney Kessel, Marlowe Morris among others. I can't seem to locate a copy. Some cool Prez footage, to be sure!
Does anybody out there know how to get it?
...damn, I should be practicin' :wink: