LESTER YOUNG - THE PRESIDENT PLAYS WITH THE OSCAR PETERSON TRIO (180g IMPORT LP)

4th August 1952: apparently a particularly auspicious day in the life of Lester Young, known as 'Prez'. When he entered the New York studio with the Oscar Peterson Trio, he had absolutely no idea that twelve wonderfully swinging yet totally relaxed numbers would be set down by the producer Norman Granz. Two years previously the boss of Norgran and later of Verve signed a contract with Lester, although the musician’s physical and mental condition (as a result of excess alcohol, drug abuse and other vices) did not really warrant this. But his success at 'Jazz At The Philharmonic' and full concert halls in Europe filled the jazz tenor with new vigour. He lent genial virtuosity to both standard and blues themes; he latched on to the harmonies of the Oscar Peterson with immeasurable creativity. While laboriously earning his daily bread with Fletcher Henderson and Count Basie’s big bands, the jam in the sandwich was provided by the small ensembles where he performed with the singer Billie 'Lady Day'. But the topping on his cake was definitely his long improvisations on blues themes (which were recorded without a time limit), such as the free 'Ad Lib Blues' on this album, and those on standards from the American Songbook. His dry though mature renderings of 'Tea For Two' and 'Almost Like Being In Love' - free of unnecessary ballast, relaxed and without vibrato - have lost nothing of their fascination over the years. The 50-year span is quite unnoticeable, at least in this excellent re-release. There’s not a speck of dust anywhere to dull the shine!

   Ad Lib Blues 
   Just You, Just Me 
   Tea For Two 
   Indiana 
   I Can't Get Started 
   On the Sunny Side of the Street 
   Almost Like Being in Love 
   There Will Never Be Another You