Lester Young Trio

Lester Young | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 19, 1994)
• Original Release Date: April 19, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000046T5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,049 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition in an LP-style slipcase. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh So Good, November 5, 2002

By 

George H. Soule (Edwardsville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lester Young Trio (Audio CD)

The important recordings on this CD are derived from sessions for the Lester Young Trio recorded in 1946. The trio is perfectly balanced. Prez is at the peak of his powers as is Nat Cole, recording as "Aye Guy." Prez and Nat Cole complement one another so well that one could argue that this is a classic collaboration for both musicians. Certainly, Young is as comfortable with Cole as he was with Teddy Wilson or Count Basie years earlier. The two derive obvious pleasure from one anothers' playing. The drummer is Buddy Rich whose pyrotechniques are understated, and his brush work is tasteful and appropriate throughout. This is great music from the bluesy "Back to the Land" to the upbeat "I've Found a New Baby." These recordings show why Young's tone and improvisational skills were the model for saxophone players. Prez swings throughout; the ballads are models of the genre. Cole's piano is lyrical, and his solos are precise statements, reminiscent of Earl Hines in their inventiveness and control. This is Nat Cole the pianist, before his apotheosis as vocalist. And he was among the best jazz pianists--as interesting as Bud Powell and the obvious model for such cats as Hank Jones, Ahmad Jamal, and Red Garland. These are excellent examples of Cole's playing. The solo on the second "I Cover the Waterfront" is elegantly tasteful. The interplay between Young and Cole is especially fine on this number, on "Somebody Loves Me," and "I Want to be Happy." The music is fine--masterful in the true sense of the word. This is an important collaboration--a valuable and important addition to any jazz library. For some reason, the disc has been expanded to include four tracks from a 1943 session featuring Dexter Gordon and trumpet player Harry "Sweets" Edison with Nat Cole. Good music, but I'm not sure why it's on this CD, except for Cole's playing and the obvious example of Young's influence on Gordon. Nevertheless, Young and Cole are masterful in the first ten tracks.

What is not masterful is the remastering of this material. At best the sound engineers should hang their heads. Verve should be producing the best jazz CDs around, but they seem to be consumately cynical I own a vinyl reissue of some of this material on a Verve bargain label (VSP) from the late 60s that doesn't have the surface noise and background garbage of this CD. The remastering is simply slipshod, and given contemporary technology, there is no excuse. Oho oho for polemic!!!

But the music is wonderful, and you forget the scratches and the surface noise and all of that stuff. Buy already!! Then listen.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh So Good, November 5, 2002

By 

George H. Soule (Edwardsville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lester Young Trio (Audio CD)

The important recordings on this CD are derived from sessions for the Lester Young Trio recorded in 1946. The trio is perfectly balanced. Prez is at the peak of his powers as is Nat Cole, recording as "Aye Guy." Prez and Nat Cole complement one another so well that one could argue that this is a classic collaboration for both musicians. Certainly, Young is as comfortable with Cole as he was with Teddy Wilson or Count Basie years earlier. The two derive obvious pleasure from one anothers' playing. The drummer is Buddy Rich whose pyrotechniques are understated, and his brush work is tasteful and appropriate throughout. This is great music from the bluesy "Back to the Land" to the upbeat "I've Found a New Baby." These recordings show why Young's tone and improvisational skills were the model for saxophone players. Prez swings throughout; the ballads are models of the genre. Cole's piano is lyrical, and his solos are precise statements, reminiscent of Earl Hines in their inventiveness and control. This is Nat Cole the pianist, before his apotheosis as vocalist. And he was among the best jazz pianists--as interesting as Bud Powell and the obvious model for such cats as Hank Jones, Ahmad Jamal, and Red Garland. These are excellent examples of Cole's playing. The solo on the second "I Cover the Waterfront" is elegantly tasteful. The interplay between Young and Cole is especially fine on this number, on "Somebody Loves Me," and "I Want to be Happy." The music is fine--masterful in the true sense of the word. This is an important collaboration--a valuable and important addition to any jazz library. For some reason, the disc has been expanded to include four tracks from a 1943 session featuring Dexter Gordon and trumpet player Harry "Sweets" Edison with Nat Cole. Good music, but I'm not sure why it's on this CD, except for Cole's playing and the obvious example of Young's influence on Gordon. Nevertheless, Young and Cole are masterful in the first ten tracks... Buy already!! Then listen.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Pres Album, November 6, 2005

By 

Jazzman (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lester Young Trio (Audio CD)

Lester Young is my favorite saxophone player and this is my favorite album of his. That wonderful Lester Young tone really comes through on this album. Pres' playing on songs like "Back To The Land" just puts chills down your spine. On top of Lester's great playing you also have two musicians who were superior players on their instruments and legends in their own right, and those are Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich. Nat King Cole, of course, was a great jazz pianist before he ever got into singing, but many people only know him as a vocalist. That's unfortunate, because there is a lot of great music that he made with his jazz trio. Of course, Buddy Rich is one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, and he could accompany on a ballad just as well as he could play with fire. With a trio as powerful as Young, Cole, and Rich it's almost impossible not to make great music.