Chu Berry

[Lazaro Vega]

With Ben Webster and Lester Young. Is that on any recording you know of?

[JSngry]

Now THAT sounds like a mofo!

Are you tracking down a lead?

[Michael Fitzgerald]

How about Count Basie's 2/3/39 Decca recording of Cherokee with Chu Berry and Lester Young as the tenors?

No Ben Webster, I'm afraid, and Berry doesn't solo.

Mike

[Lazaro Vega]

Yes, Jim, and thanks much Mike. Leonard Feather heard those three at a jam session, wrote about it, and was just wondering if perhaps some recording of it ever came to light.

[Brad]

As a leader, no. At least according to the Chronological Classics which is said to contains all his dates as a leader.

In the liner notes of Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry: Tenor Giants, a Commodore reissue, Francis Davis refers to Billie Holiday's book in which she recounts Chu Berry battling Lester. Perhaps this is what Mike is referring to. According to the notes, most musicians felt that Chu bested Lester that evening.

[brownie]

With Ben Webster and Lester Young. Is that on any recording you know of?

Only in my dreams

[Lazaro Vega]

There is, of course, the Lionel Hampton sessions where Chu is heard with Hawkins, Ben and Benny Carter, and that jam with Charlie Ventura on the Classics CD from 41 (?) is said to be from a club or concert -- but I was wondering if some Jazz Archives LP or some off small label had the session Feather was referring to. Anyone hear that long jam session with Pres, Hawk and Illinois Jacquet on Jazz Archive, I think the lp issue of "Jammin' the Blues" (not looking, but I think that's what it was on)?

[mmilovan]

How about Count Basie's 2/3/39 Decca recording of Cherokee with Chu Berry and Lester Young as the tenors?

No Ben Webster, I'm afraid, and Berry doesn't solo.

Mike

Chu Berry and Lester are of course on "Lady Be Good", and IMO Lester cut Chu...

[blue lake]

Right, I was just coming on to say I'd just heard where they both solo on this 1939 recording of "Lady Be Good," where the band has arranged "showband" parts, especially that ending, and it is played faster than the classic small band record from 1936. Berry hops in like Lester with three notes and then goes into a speedy Hawkins inspired unbroken stream of a solo. Pres comes on and is just amazing. Both Berry and Collins alluded to a wide interval in the melody during their solos, but Pres just jumps on that (between 1.42 and 1.49), widens the idea through his use of rhythm, and it sounds like a message from the future.

[mmilovan]

Right, I was just coming on to say I'd just heard where they both solo on this 1939 recording of "Lady Be Good," where the band has arranged "showband" parts, especially that ending, and it is played faster than the classic small band record from 1936. Berry hops in like Lester with three notes and then goes into a speedy Hawkins inspired unbroken stream of a solo. Pres comes on and is just amazing. Both Berry and Collins alluded to a wide interval in the melody during their solos, but Pres just jumps on that (between 1.42 and 1.49), widens the idea through his use of rhythm, and it sounds like a message from the future.

blue lake,

yes, right as you said: a message from the future! Probably one of the first free jazz bars or solos ever.