Lester Young - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Lester Young
List Price:
Our Price: $4.50
You Save: $7.48 (62%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.21 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Lester YoungEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2000-11-07
Music Label: Polygram Records
Soundtracks:
- Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Lester Young
- Every Tub (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Honeysuckle Rose (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Pagin' The Devil (with the Kansas City Six)
- A Sailboat In The Moonlight (with Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra)
- He's Funny That Way (with Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra)
- Getting Some Fun Out Of Life (with Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra)
- If Dreams Come True (with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra)
- Taxi War Dance (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Twelfth Street Rag (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Lester Leaps In (with Count Basie's Kansas City Seven)
- Tickle Toe (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Sometimes I'm Happy
- I've Found A New Baby
- D.B. Blues
- Jumpin' With Smyphony Sid
- This Year's Kisses
- Polka Dots and Moonbeams (with Count Basie & His Orchestra)
Music reviews of Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Lester Young
Music Review: Five stars for Prez
Rating: 4 Stars
Despite what you may have heard from some writers, Lester Young was basically a shadow of his former self throughout most of the '50s. There were moments, of course, when he was relatively straight and sober and capable of getting to you--providing you remembered the Lester of old. But he didn't come close to regaining his former glory, or playing in a manner that would demonstrate to newcomers why many consider him one of the greatest soloists of all time, perhaps the "missing link" between Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker.
So this album may be a better start than a '50s LP such as the Verve date with Oscar Peterson. At the same time, the mastering--or lack of it--is frankly quite puzzling throughout the Burns' series. It's one thing to leave in the surface noise of the miraculous find of the complete Goodman Carnegie Concert from 1938, but many of the Lester dates were commercial studio recordings that not only were not noisy but demonstrated quite impressively his smooth and mellow, light and graceful sound. Like a number of other recordings in the Burns' series, this one tends to overdo the treble and, as a result, "pinch" Lester's unique sound. Also, while the inclusion of Billie Holiday and Lester's "Sailboat in the Moonlight" is to be applauded, the thin, anemic and distant quality of Lady Day's voice is inexcusable (hadn't the engineers heard of equalizers?), vitiating the efforts of both performers. Still, if you can't get Verve Jazz Masters Vol. 30, this one can be recommended, at least as a start.
It should be noted that the first paragraph above applies as much to Billie Holiday, Lester's musical companion and soulmate. You haven't really heard Lady Day until you can "get" what she was doing when Benny Goodman hired her in 1934 and in the definitive recordings thereafter--the vintage years for both artists are 1935-1949 (unlike some listeners, I don't hear the dramatic decline in Lester's playing immediately following his army experiences, though his late '30s-early '40s recordings are certainly pick of the crop).
Broadway & Vocalists CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Broadway & Vocalists CDs
George Shearing, Mel Torme - Elegant EveningSHEARING,G/TORME,M; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.39
Price in other shops:
Stan Getz - Spring Is HereRelease date: 1993-01-11; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Rosemary Clooney - Girl SingerRelease date: 1999-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
The Blenders - NogRelease date: 1998-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $8.77
Price in other shops:
Brave Combo, Tiny Tim - GirlTIM,TINY/BRAVE COMB; Release date: 1996-03-19; Music CD
Best price: $15.05
Price in other shops:
Belleville a Cappella Choir - Southern Journey, Vol. 11: Honor The Lamb - The Belleville A Cappella ChoirRelease date: 1998-02-10; Music CD
Best price: $84.05
Diane Schuur - Love SongsRelease date: 1993-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops:
![Love Is the Thing [Vinyl] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Nat King Cole - Love Is the Thing [Vinyl]Release date: 1996-11-19; Music CD
Best price: $169.99
Linda Ronstadt - Linda Ronstadt: Greatest HitsRelease date: 1998-01-13; Music CD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Buddy Rich, Sammy Davis Jr - Sounds of 66Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong: Ken Burns JAZZ (The Definitive)Release date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $3.25
Price in other shops:
Count Basie - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Count BasieRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $5.66
Price in other shops:
Charlie Parker - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Charlie ParkerRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $4.88
Price in other shops:
Sarah Vaughan - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Sarah VaughanRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Dizzy Gillespie - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Dizzy GillespieRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $4.75
Price in other shops:
Art Blakey - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Art BlakeyRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $5.10
Price in other shops:
Sonny Rollins - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Sonny RollinsRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
Coleman Hawkins - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Coleman HawkinsRelease date: 2000-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $6.64
Price in other shops:
Benny Goodman - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Benny GoodmanRelease date: 2011-03-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.85
Price in other shops:
Duke Ellington - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Duke EllingtonRelease date: 2011-03-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.37
Price in other shops: