AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Lester Young, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details
Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio; The Lester Young and Buddy Rich Trio; Pres & Sweets and Pres & Teddy
Finally and not before time (you might say), AVID welcomes one of the true giants of jazz to its catalogue, Mr Lester Young, or Pres (as named by his long-time friend and musical collaborator, Billie Holiday), as he was known to fellow musicians and fans alike. There is not much to say about Lester Young that has not been said before, he was certainly one of the most influential jazz musicians who ever lived and he really did exemplify the image of the cool jazz musician with his heavy lidded appearance, his famed pork pie hat and the ever present, fag smoke wafting into view. His playing was cool and mellow and brilliant and we have chosen to highlight it in our four albums where he can be heard in collaboration with other great musicians including Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, Nat King Cole, Teddy Wilson and Harry Sweets Edison. The list of players he has influenced would have to include Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Al Cohn and Paul Quinichette.
CD1
1-8: Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio
1. Ad Lib Blues
2. I Cant Get Started
3. Just You, Just Me
4. Almost Like Being In Love
5. Tea For Two
6. There Will Never Be Another You
7. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
8. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
9-16: The Lester Young/Buddy Rich Trio
9. Back To The Land
10. Ive Found A New Baby
11. I Cover The Waterfront
12. Somebody Loves Me
13. I Want To Be Happy
14. The Man I Love
15. Mean To Me
16. Peg O My Heart
CD2
1-6: Pres & Sweets
1. Mean To Me
2. Red Boy Blues
3. Pennies From Heaven
4. Thats All
5. One OClock Jump
6. Shes Funny That Way
7-12: Pres & Teddy
7. All Of Me
8. Prisoner Of Love
9. Louise
10. Love Me Or Leave Me
11. Taking A Chance On Love
12. Our Love Is Here To Stay