Customer Reviews

Lester Young 1943 Ro 1946

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Be advised that there are NO Kansas City 5, 6, or 7 tracks on this CD, although there are some small group lineups that feature Basie on piano, Freddie Green on guitar, & Rodney Wilson on bass, but the KC5 drummer Jo Jones is replaced by Shadow Wilson. Good mastering job considering how old these recordings are. Personally prefer to hear the Kansas City groups, available on this label (see "recommended in addition to") above. There is a generous helping of material here: 4 cuts each by 6 different lineups from an early quartet, 2 quintets, 2 septets, and a big band. Can't go far wrong with any Lester Young. For that matter, all the Melodie Jazz Classic albums I've tried have been very good.

I have only one complaint. I have all of this material on various LPs, and this IS some of the VERY best of Lester, but - here is the argument for alternate takes - there are 2, sometimes more, takes of almost all of these tunes on the LPs (and, certainly, the master tapes), so which ones do we get here? You really don't know. More than likely the 'issued' master. That's fine, if you haven't developed an affinity for a certain solo by whomever, be it Slam Stewart, or the Count, on any given 'alternate take'. Those 'alternate takes' are every bit as much a part of the history of the tracks and the artists and the music as the 'issued' versions. Other than that, most folks will LOVE this one. Most, if not all, of this is the 'Kansas City Six, or Seven' bands. 'Prez' at his very best.