LESTER YOUNG
With The Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

---

Lester Young is one of the three most influential and important tenor saxophone players of the 20th century, along with Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane. At a time when Hawkins' hugh, masculine tone was all the rage among tenor players, Lester developed a completely different approach to playing his instrument. His lighter sound seemingly floated out of his sax, creating remarkable music that still sounds superb today.

It is generally acknowledged that many of Lester's seminal recordings occurred during the 1930s and 1940s. During the 1940s while serving in the military, he experienced such terrible racism that it permanently affect his mental state. Young would grapple with the demons in his mind for the rest of his life.

However, it is a total myth that Young's best days were behind him since some of his greatest playing happened in the 1950s. Recorded in 1952, the sessions that comprise With The Oscar Peterson Trio found Young in outstanding form and spirits, and his playing reflects it. Lester's solos were coherent, powerful, deliberate, and haunting. They displayed a great emotional depth rarely found in recorded jazz; the joys and pains of Young's life were right there for the listener to hear. The Oscar Peterson Trio back up Young perfectly. Simply put, this was and always will be essential music. A must for every jazz collection.

Track List:

Ad Lib Blues; I Can't Get Started; Just You, Just Me; Almost Like Being In Love; Tea For Two; There Will Never Be Another You; (Back Home Again In) Indiana; On The Sunny Side Of The Street; Star Dust; I'm Confessin'; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; These Foolish Things; (It Takes) Two To Tango; I Can't Get Started.

© 2000 - Ron Saranich