Lester Young
Trio

THE REVIEW

A giant.

This oft-abused definition, though certainly not in this case, suffices to encapsulate the figure of the saxophonist Lester Young, who rose to artistic prominence in the 1930s at the courts of Fletcher Henderson and Count Basie. His saxophone style stood in radical contrast to the then-dominant style of His Majesty Coleman Hawkins: a light, almost vibrato-free sound, long lines of stolen notes with a lazy, languid, insinuating gait; seemingly simple, yet in reality full of subtleties, nuances, and harmonic daring. Lester's musical discourse was allusive and elliptical, as enigmatic as his personality, which caught everyone off guard and was quickly imitated, to the point of becoming indispensable (at least as much as Hawkins') for the development of subsequent jazz language.

Regarding the album in question, it is a trio session recorded for Verve in 1946, featuring Buddy Rich on drums and Aye Guy - that is, Nat "King" Cole forced to record under a pseudonym, probably for contractual reasons - on piano. A set consisting of standards and an original piece, "Back To The Land," written by Lester himself. A set of crystalline class, where Rich creates a fine support with cymbals, marked by discretion and understatement, and Cole indulges in a myriad of lyrical, graceful flourishes, filling the double bass space with an impressive right-hand play while simultaneously inventing spirals of enveloping counter-melodies that brilliantly intertwine with the sax, enveloping, discreet, and elegant of Pres ("The President," as his great friend Billie Holiday called him). The album favors medium tempos and ballads, such as the opening blues indeed, or a passionate "The Man I Love" that refracts in a funhouse mirror play through the interplay of Lester and Nat. The task of raising the stakes falls to the fast and exciting "I've Found A New Baby" full of rhythmic suspensions and surprising "honk" that unexpectedly and remarkably tear through the sax lines. Overall, a dozen tracks that within four minutes at most manage to distill class, inventiveness, and originality from every measure, and at the same time accessible to everyone. No small feat! A fundamental chapter to have, to then continue exploring the President's discography far and wide.

Note: the reissue also contains four tracks where Nat Cole plays with Harry "Sweets" Edison and Dexter Gordon. For heaven's sake, it's always a great listen, though it seems odd to hear four pieces without Lester Young on a Lester Young album... even though the immense Long Tall Dexter's gratitude to Mr. Porkpie Hat is evident! This album is included in the beautiful Verve box set that contains all of Pres's recordings for Norman Granz's renowned label (see link alongside).