Opinions sought on Lester in D.C. recordings

[ghost of miles]

There seems to be a divided school of thought on the Fantasy-owned LESTER YOUNG IN WASHINGTON recordings... what do y'all think? I'm leaning towards picking them up, as I like a fair amount of late Lester... these emanate from 1956, I believe.

[ejp626]

I think they are pretty good. I have 1-3 (out of 5 volumes I think). He generally sounds inspired and not like a tired old man. That's about as profound I can be without listening to them again. If you like late Lester, then you should like these.

Eric

[Larry Kart]

As good as it gets from that period. Can't imagine what the thoughts on the other side of the divide might be, unless they're from people who just don't like late Pres in general. Don't hesitate.

[brownie]

Some of the best later-days Lester Young. The Prez obviously enjoyed playing those Washington dates and it shows. There is a lot of excellent and inspired music on all 5CDs. How lucky we are that this music surfaced!

[jazzbo]

I'll just add my endorsement. A real proof that refutes a lot of the barbed talk about Pres after the close of the forties. Nicely recorded stuff too! You may not want all of the volumes unless you're a Pres maniac (guilty as charged!) but a few would be nice to have!

[John L]

1956 was a exceptional year for Lester Young. There are also the great 1956 Verve recordings with Teddy Wilson and live recordings from the Cafe Bohemia and Paris.

[JSngry]

All that!

[jazzbo]

[JSngry]

Indeed!

[paul secor]

Another .

I have the first three volumes on LP (no excuse or reason for not picking up the final two - I guess I just felt I had enough to listen to), and it's prime late Pres. Hell, some of it is just prime Pres, period. I assume from all of the positive feedback that the Ghost will soon be listing Lester in D.C. in the what are you listening to right now? thread.

[BruceH]

from me, too. I've long thought of these as (arguably) his best last-period recordings. A moment of grace, as it were. I've got them on vinyl, now thinking of getting them all on CD.

[LAL]

All the above.

Definitely prime Pres of any period, IMO. Get all five volumes!

[ghost of miles]

All right, all right... Uncle! I'll get all five.

[John L]

You might start with volume 1. Along with other gems, the 8:00 DB Blues on that disc is SO sublime.

[Shawn]

I've got all 5...all excellent...

As for the "post-Army" myth...that's all it is..a myth. There are MANY wonderful moments from the 50's. These wonderful performances included.

[ghost of miles]

I've got all 5...all excellent...

As for the "post-Army" myth...that's all it is..a myth. There are MANY wonderful moments from the 50's. These wonderful performances included.

I've got the Aladdins, the Savoys, and the whole Verve set, so I know the postwar myth is just that... but a couple of people whose opinions I generally respect have written off these particular volumes as passable at best. The Organissimos carry the day for me, however, so I shall purchase with due haste.

[P.D.]

These are excellent dates for a Pres collector ( I don't have the one with the trombone).. Pres sounds relaxed and totally comfortable. They are , I think, not as good as the Jazz Giants 56, and the Pres & Teddy set.

As far as the " myth" goes, Pres was obviously not as consistent post 50's as he was in the earlier years.. my avatar will attest to that..... but then who of us are as consistent at anything as we grow older... though it often makes us take our time about certain things.. as a girl friend once commented

[clandy44]

Can't live in the DC area and not have all of these! He sounds terrific to my ears, nice and relaxed with a no-name but very supportive rhythm section. Don't care what the experts say, just know what my ears are telling me.

[pryan]

I only have vol. 5, but it is indeed excellent. Bill Harris guests on the latter half of the disc. Superb stuff.

[P.D.]

I only have vol. 5, but it is indeed excellent. Bill Harris guests on the latter half of the disc. Superb stuff.

Where do you get that information from?

The Olivia's set .. vol 5...its said to be Earl Swope on trombone.

As far as I can determine Young and Harris only 'met" on JATP sets.. much earlier.

[pryan]

Shit, you're right P.D. it is Earl Swope. I didn't have the album in front of me when I posted earlier.

[Peter]

I very much enjoy the D.C. recordings. Some of Pres's best post-war stuff.

[montg]

I received Vol. 3 in this series as a gift for Christmas--the first of these CDs I have heard and I'm pleasantly surprised how good it is. Pres sounds very much in control, seems to be able to do pretty much anything he wants to do. And he sounds so happy and inventive. I'm looking forward to picking up some other volumes in this series, what a pleasant surprise. Oh, and the recording quality, at least for the volume I have, is excellent, even the bass is audible.

Were these recordings originally made by Norman Granz for Verve?

[paul secor]

I received Vol. 3 in this series as a gift for Christmas--the first of these CDs I have heard and I'm pleasantly surprised how good it is. Pres sounds very much in control, seems to be able to do pretty much anything he wants to do. And he sounds so happy and inventive. I'm looking forward to picking up some other volumes in this series, what a pleasant surprise. Oh, and the recording quality, at least for the volume I have, is excellent, even the bass is audible.

Were these recordings originally made by Norman Granz for Verve?

No - the recordings were done by Bill Potts with bassist Norman "Willie" Williams' recorder when Pres played with Potts' trio in 1956. The recordings (four of them, I believe) were originally released on Pablo LPs in the 1980's. I think the fifth CD was issued later.

[DMP]

Concord should put the 5 together in a box, like the early Sonny Stitt; it would probably wind up around 3 CD's.