Personnel:
Lester Young (ts, vcl), Harry Edison (tp), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard, Louis Bellson (d)
Reference: LHJ10326
Bar code: 8436019583265
This release presents the two complete original 1952 albums reuniting Lester and the Oscar Peterson Trio (with the addition of Barney Kessel on guitar, the band is in fact a quartet), plus some tunes from the same session originally issued separately.
In addition to the superb music contained on these sessions, they also included two oddities: on "Two to Tango", Lester Young sings, and on one of the bonus tracks, "St. Tropez", he plays the clarinet.
"Defying what has become conventional wisdom, tenor saxophonist Lester Young (when he was reasonably healthy) actually cut some of his greatest recordings in the 50s. On this wonderful effort with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer J.C. Heard, Prez performs definitive versions of "Just You, Just Me" and "Tea for Two," and plays a string of concise but memorable ballad renditions: "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Almost Like Being in Love," "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," "There Will Never Be Another You," and "I'm Confessin'." The CD reissue augments the original dozen songs with a version of the good-humored "It Takes Two to Tango" (which features Young's only recorded vocals). Essential music."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
