Prez: "Too Marvelous for Words"

[medjuck]

Got an e-mail today from True Blue advertising the above mentioned cd of broadcasts from 1951. Anyone have or know it? Should I immediately order it? Is there such a thing as a bad Lester Young cd?

[brownie]

Those broadcasts have been issued on several Prez albums. Nothing new there, but if you do not have any of the material yet, you should get this release. The CD title tells it all!

Backing The President are John Lewis, Gene Ramey and Jo Jones!

[mikelz777]

That stuff may be here:

John Lewis - Complete Verve Studio Sessions With Lester Young (6/50 - 3/51)

I don't have acess to the disc but I think these may all be studio recordings.

Edited April 19, 2012 by mikelz777

[brownie]

That stuff may be here:

John Lewis - Complete Verve Studio Sessions With Lester Young (6/50 - 3/51)

I don't have acess to the disc but I think these may all be studio recordings.

That CD has studio recordings only.

The CD that is mentioned in the Mosaic letter is released by Candid.

Too Marvellous for Words, Details

[mikelz777]

This CD has 6 numbers from that group broadcast Jan. 19 and 20th, 1951. (Lester Leaps In, Up And At'Em, Indiana, Ghost Of A Chance, How High The Moon, D.B. Blues) It would be a good way to test the material out very cheaply. This disc can currently be had new at Amazon Marketplace for $1.00 and change. I have all 5 discs in this series and despite the cheesy and totally unrelated artwork, found the discs to be very enjoyable, hearing Pres live at Birdland. There are 4 additional numbers featuring Jesse Drakes, Earl Knight, Aaron Bell and Joe Harris. (Up And At'Em, Blue Sentimental, Neenah, Lester Leaps In - 8/51)

The President: Historical Masters, vol 2

Discussion on this series here:

discussion

Edited April 19, 2012 by mikelz777

[AllenLowe]

'50 and '51 were very good years for Prez - he was looking for new things and still relatively cognizant.

[Larry Kart]

Just ordered it

[AllenLowe]

I can't seem to find the True Blue version of this - anybody have a link?

[Pete C]

Is there such a thing as a bad Lester Young cd?

Much as I love him I find some of the early Granz dates (with Hank Jones and John Lewis) weak, as well as his playing on Pres and Sweets. For me, '49-51 are among his weakest years, then he comes back swinging with Peterson in 1952, and transcendent with Basie at Newport.

[JETman]

I can't seem to find the True Blue version of this - anybody have a link?

It's a Candid cd, fwiw:

http://www.amazon.com/Too-Marvellous-Words-Lester-Young/dp/B006UTDG0G/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334857694&sr=1-1

[jazzbo]

I can't seem to find the True Blue version of this - anybody have a link?

http://www.truebluemusic.com/prodinfo.asp?number=YOUNLE19

[jlhoots]

Those broadcasts have been issued on several Prez albums. Nothing new there, but if you do not have any of the material yet, you should get this release. The CD title tells it all!

Backing The President are John Lewis, Gene Ramey and Jo Jones!

Where has this been before?

I can't figure out whether I have the material or not.

[John L]

Is there such a thing as a bad Lester Young cd?

Much as I love him I find some of the early Granz dates (with Hank Jones and John Lewis) weak, as well as his playing on Pres and Sweets. For me, '49-51 are among his weakest years, then he comes back swinging with Peterson in 1952, and transcendent with Basie at Newport.

Our tastes diverge here pretty strongly. I think that 1949-1951 were some of Lester Young's greatest years on record, beginning with the last Savoy session and including all the tremendous live recordings from 50-51. By contrast, I find 1952 to be weaker. I find the Oscar Peterson session to be good, but not top drawer. 1953 was even weaker, and 1954-1955 the weakest years. Pres came back strong in 56.

[AllenLowe]

sometimes with Prez these later things are like reading the diaries of a great writer - more fragmentary, less continuity, not as focused - but indispensable. They just give us a particular picture of genius at a particular time.

[John L]

Is there such a thing as a bad Lester Young cd?

Much as I love him I find some of the early Granz dates (with Hank Jones and John Lewis) weak, as well as his playing on Pres and Sweets. For me, '49-51 are among his weakest years, then he comes back swinging with Peterson in 1952, and transcendent with Basie at Newport.

Our tastes diverge here pretty strongly. I think that 1949-1951 were some of Lester Young's greatest years on record, beginning with the last Savoy session and including all the tremendous live recordings from 50-51. By contrast, I find 1952 to be weaker. I find the Oscar Peterson session to be good, but not top drawer. 1953 was even weaker, and 1954-1955 the weakest years. Pres came back strong in 56.

As an additional clarification, I agree about Pres and Sweets, but that session dates from 1955.

[king ubu]

Agree with John L here - but Allen's point is valid, too. No fan wants to be without any of this material.

The saddest, to me, is "Laughing to Keep from Crying"... but then the cover and the poignancy of the title... well, I love all things Pres

[Pete C]

I find on "The President Plays" sides his intonation is stronger, his soloing surer, and with more of his rhythmic buoyancy of old that I don't see on the earlier Granzes (the Cole-Rich date, of course, excluded).

[king ubu]

Well, the earlier Granz dates are surely a mixed bunch, but still I've never fully connected to the recordings with OP.

[John L]

Yes, I would say that the few studio recordings that Pres made in 1950-1951 were not at the same level as most of the live recordings from the same time.

[Chuck Nessa]

I think all post war Lester is personal and I think he'd like it that way. Same with Lady Day.

[fasstrack]

Got an e-mail today from True Blue advertising the above mentioned cd of broadcasts from 1951. Anyone have or know it? Should I immediately order it? Is there such a thing as a bad Lester Young cd?

There is no such thing. Anyone can have a bad day, and Pres was human. That was his genius: unique yet approachable poetry that was so human. And even when he was supposed to be 'washed up' there was a bend in the road every solo-a note or rhythm so CONTRARY... I'd grab anything. The live stuff w/Jesse Drakes and co. is worth it-from the same pd. Is the great Vic Dickenson on some of those?

[medjuck]

Is there such a thing as a bad Lester Young cd?

Much as I love him I find some of the early Granz dates (with Hank Jones and John Lewis) weak, as well as his playing on Pres and Sweets.

Yeah, but those recordings are worth having for Sweet's playing.

[Pete C]

Yes, I would say that the few studio recordings that Pres made in 1950-1951 were not at the same level as most of the live recordings from the same time.

And with this the minds meet!

[king ubu]

(recurrency: so since this is on Candid which is believed to be an "okay" label, links are alright?)

[mikeweil]