The final volume of this four-volume chronicling of Prez' stand at Olivia's Patio Lounge in 1956 is no less fine than its preceding three volumes. Everything here is stretched out to a comfortable length, everybody is taking their time, giving the music plenty of room to breathe and most importantly, giving
Young all the time he needs to get deep inside the music itself. Nice readings of the ballad "I Cover the Waterfront," "Talk of the Town" and a swinging "Pennies from Heaven" are the big tickets here, imbued with an economy from
Bill Potts' Trio that perfectly frames
Young's flights of fancy. Fine alternate performances of "I'm Confessin' That I Love You," "Almost Like Being In Love," "G's, If You Please" and "D.B. Blues" (
Lester's blues with a bridge that
King Pleasure put words to) complete the set, a series that every jazz fan should have in their collection and one that no
Lester Young fan can afford to be without. ~ Cub Koda