Lester Young › Lester Young in Washington, D.C., 1956, Volume 3 (Live)

Personnel: Lester Young (tenor saxophone); Bill Potts (piano); Norman Williams (bass); Jim Lucht (drums).

Recorded in Washington, D.C. in 1956. Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff.

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1996, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Personnel: Lester Young (tenor saxophone).

Recording information: Washington DC (12/03/1956-12/09/1956).

This third volume furthers explores the marvelous cache of tapes that have surfaced from Lester Young's 1956 engagement at Olivia's Patio Lounge in Washington, D.C. With the swinging but unobtrusive Bill Potts Trio, he provides the same empathetic support heard on the other volumes in this set, always playing the right changes without overt bop embellishments just for the sake of embroidery. Potts soloing is always in the pocket and his comping behind drummer Jim Lucht and bassist Norman Williams is equally fine and telling in what it leaves out. By laying down a simple beat with simple chord changes, you can actually hear Prez loosen up with each chorus, digging in and finding fresh ideas even in tunes that he had played hundreds of times over. This volume features swinging, finger-snapping versions of "Just You, Just Me," "Sometimes I'm Happy," and the bluesy "G's, If You Please," which sports the same intro as "Up 'n' Adam" until Lester comes in and starts taking it into new territory. A blazingly fast take of "Indiana" rounds out this excellent package. ~ Cub Koda

Genre:

• Jazz

Product Series:

• Fantasy Warehouse Clearance Sale