Lester Young - Master Takes

Lester Young recorded for Savoy three separate times in four different settings. On Apr. 18, 1944 he performed as part of the Count Basie Orchestra (although Basie himself was absent) for three numbers and then cut four more songs with a septet that included trumpeter Billy Butterfield and pianist Johnny Guarnieri. A few weeks later he was featured on four selections in front of the Count Basie rhythm section. Prez made his final Savoy appearance in 1949, fronting a young sextet that also included pianist Junior Mance and drummer Roy Haynes. All of those performances are included on this CD minus the many alternate takes which can be heard (along with this entire program) on The Complete Savoy Recordings. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Killian Trumpet Billy Butterfield Trumpet Billy Taylor, Sr. Bass Bob Porter Reissue Producer, Producer Buck Ram Producer, Original Session Producer Buddy Tate Sax (Tenor) Clyde Hart Piano Count Basie Piano, Performer Cozy Cole Drums Dexter Hall Guitar Dicky Wells Trombone Earle Warren Sax (Alto), Vocals Ed Lewis Trumpet Edward Lewis Trumpet Eli Robinson Trombone Freddie Green Guitar Hank D'Amico Clarinet Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet Jerry Elliott Trombone Jesse Drakes Trumpet Jimmy Powell Sax (Alto) Jo Jones Drums Joe Newman Trumpet Johnny Guarnieri Piano Junior Mance Piano LeRoy Jackson Bass Lester Young Sax (Tenor) Lou Taylor Trombone Peter Keepnews Liner Notes Rodney Richardson Bass Roy Haynes Drums Rudy Rutherford Sax (Baritone) Rudy Van Gelder Mastering Shadow Wilson Drums Ted Donnelly Trombone Teddy Reig Producer, Original Session Producer