Lester Young Complete Aladdin Recordings CD

Recorded in Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York between July 15, 1942 and December 29, 1947. Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather.

With his deeply lyrical style, flawless technical execution, endless stream of ideas, and languid, behind-the-beat approach, Lester Young's playing evokes the very essence of jazz: a dream of pure expression born in a smoke-filled club at 3:00 a.m. The second most important saxophone innovator after Coleman Hawkins, Young invented the concept of playing "cool" some 20 years before Miles Davis and Chet Baker. Contrary to popular belief, Young made some of his best music in the 1940s, and THE COMPLETE ALADDIN RECORDINGS is testament to that fact.

When recording for Aladdin between 1942 and 1945, Young worked with bassist Red Callender, drummer Roy Haynes, pianist Nat "King" Cole, and producer Norman Granz, among others. While emerging from swing, his tone and conception were utterly modern (though he still swings like nobody's business), and the material here is classic Young-- laid-back, dreamy, deeply soulful, and always inventive. Whether burning through changes on uptempo numbers ("Jumpin' at Mesner's"), working a boogie vamp ("S.M. Blues"), unfurling his silky phrases on ballads ("These Foolish Things"), or accompanying singer Helen Humes ("See See Rider"), Young's musical poetry is as evident on these Aladdin sessions as on anything he ever recorded.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Personnel: Lester Young (tenor saxophone); Helen Humes (vocals); Chuck Wayne, Dave Barbour, Fred Lacey, Nasir Barakaat, Irving Ashby (guitar); Willie Smith (alto saxophone); Maxwell Davis (tenor saxophone); Shorty McConnell, Howard McGhee, Snooky Young (trumpet); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Dodo Marmarosa, Gene DiNovi, Wesley Jones, Argonne Thornton, Jimmy Bunn, Joe Albany, Nat King Cole (piano); Chico Hamilton, Henry Tucker, Lyndell Marshall, Johnny Otis, Roy Haynes, Tiny Kahn (drums).

Liner Note Author: Leonard Feather.

Recording information: Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA; WOR STudios, New York, NY.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Roy Hayens; Howard McGhee; Irving Ashby; Joe Albany; Nat King Cole; Red Callender; Roy Haynes; Willie Smith.

Personnel: Lester Young (tenor saxophone); Helen Humes (vocals); Willie Smith (alto saxophone); Maxwell Davis (tenor saxophone); Howard McGhee, Shorty McConnell (trumpet); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Dodo Marmarosa, Nat Cole, Wesley Jones, Joe Albany, Argonne "Sadik Hakim" Thornton, Gene DiNovi, Jimmy Bunn (piano); Irving Ashby, Fred Lacey, Nasir Barakaat, Chuck Wayne, Dave Barbour (guitar); Red Callender, Curtis Counce, Rodney Richardson, Ted Briscoe, Curly Russell, Junior Rudd (bass); Henry Tucker, Johnny Otis, Chico Hamilton, Lyndell Marshall, Roy Haynes, Tiny Kahn (drums).

Producers: Norman Granz, Leonard Feather.

JazzTimes (4/96, p.78) - "Even more than its improved sound quality, what is most commendable about this set of long-awaited reissues is the addition of an earlier session never before grouped with the 1945-47 Philo/Aladdins..."