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