Basically
Young's
Savoy Master Takes,
Blue Lester finds the svelte tenor innovator on a prime mix of sides from 1944 and 1949. As was the trend of most swing soloists by the mid-'40s,
Young heads up a few different extended combos here, featuring the likes of pianist
Johnny Guarnieri, trumpeter
Jesse Drakes, drummer
Cozy Cole, and old
Basie bandmates
Freddie Green and
the Count himself. The numbers with
Basie are particularly good, especially "I Don't Stand a Ghost of Chance With You" and "Back Home in Indiana." And for the topper,
Young is heard in the company of the entire
Basie band (
Clyde Hart is on piano, though) for the three tracks that close things out. Not a bad place to start your
Lester Young collection.