Album review: Lester Young - Lester Leaps In: Live at Birdland

Lester Young (tenor sax); Jesse Drakes (trumpet tks 6,7,8); John Lewis, Cyril Haynes, Earl Knight (piano on different dates); Gene Ramey (bass); Jo Jones, Lee Abrams (drums on different dates)

Recorded live at Birdland over four sessions (three in 1951, one in 1952) this is Lester in the latter part of his troubled life. A period when the pundits said that he was past it, couldn't cut it any more, coasting on his former glories etc.

Obviously those armchair critics weren't at Birdland on the nights these tracks were recorded. For my money, the spark is still there.

Lester Leaps In. An excellent workout on the title track with his legendary trick of repeating a note several times using different fingering to achieve differing tonal density.

A Ghost of a Chance. Ballad playing at its best. Up and Atom. Another swinger with 'Prez' ending the piece with a quote from Jumping With Symphony Sid. Relevant as DJ Symphony Sid Torin was emceeing and recording the show for his radio programme.

These Foolish Things. More beautiful balladry. When he was in the mood Lester could display emotion as effectively as any of the other tenor sax balladeers such as Ben, Bean or Chu. Tonight he was in that mood.

Neenah stomps merrily along. I don't know which of the three pianists or two drummers were on this track but, along with Gene Ramey I'm guessing Lewis and Jones but only because I'm not familiar with the others. At the end Symphony Sid gives a shout-out to Billie Holiday who's in the audience. Maybe that's why Lester is in such good form.

Indiana. Lester had been playing Indiana for years - him and every other saxophonist - so it's not surprising he knows it inside out. 'Whatever became of trumpet player' Jesse Drakes has a fiery solo. Whatever did become of Jesse Drakes?  He was a contender.

How High the Moon. Drakes stayed on for the bebop national anthem and, as a graduate of Minton's, he's very much bop orientated. Sacrilege as it may seem I gave Drakes the nod when he and Lester swapped fours.

Deed I Do. Pure unadulterated Prez, he runs the changes like nobody's business. Drakes once more on fire. Nice piano, under recorded bass. This time Lester nails the fours.

Available November 28 on 180-gram vinyl, with the CD & digital releases following on December 12.  All formats feature new liner notes by jazz scholar Scott Yanow. A digital single, “Up and Atom,” is available now. Lance

P.S. Back in the mid 1960s these tracks (or similar) were issued on some of the budget labels that popped up in stores, garages and other non-musical outlets. I think the Parker estate was involved somewhere along the line.