Search - Lester Young :: Pres in Europe

Lester Young's life in the 1950s was an up-and-down affair, but 1956 was one of the "up" years. In November, he visited Europe with a jazz package show and often slipped away after the concert to sit in at a local club. Five of these seven numbers come from just such an after-hours session, in Frankfurt. Clearly relaxed and happy, Young plays with fluency and wit for chorus after chorus on such favorite themes as "These Foolish Things," "Lullaby of Birdland," and the blues. His rhythm section (two U.S., one Swedish) is well above average and, bearing in mind the circumstances, the recording quality is remarkably good. The remaining two tracks come from French television and find Young in almost as good form. A valuable example of his best later work. --Dave Gelly