While the jazz critic jury seems to still be out concerning the musical worth of
Lester Young's post-World War II recordings, this 17-track collection brings together the tracks and solos that are generally perceived as the yardstick of Prez's genius. All recorded between 1936 to 1943,
Young is strictly a sideman in the eight different configurations presented here, but he quietly dominates the proceedings with his bounty of ideas and beautiful playing throughout. Beginning with the Jones/Smith Incorporated track of "Shoe Shine Boy," and moving on to
Count Basie's "Lester Leaps In," and an excerpt from
Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall concert appearance in 1938 on "Honeysuckle Rose" (focusing on
Young's solo but utilizing a splice that proves that
Gene Krupa rushed the beat on this 11-minute-plus track),
Lester simply shines on every track, a fountainhead of moods, ideas and phrasing that's sublime. His work behind
Billie Holiday on "All of me," "The Man I Love" and "I Must Have That Man" shows how extraordinary he was in backing a vocalist and extending the melody line for every song. No matter how the naysayers will critique his later work, the material collected on this disc is above reproach and a major chunk of jazz history. ~ Cub Koda