Lester Young With The Oscar Peterson Trio

Defying what has become conventional wisdom, tenor saxophonist Lester Young (when he was reasonably healthy) actually cut some of his greatest recordings in the 1950s. On this wonderful effort with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer J.C. Heard, Prez performs definitive versions of “Just You, Just Me” and “Tea for Two,” and plays a string of concise but memorable ballad renditions: “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” “Almost Like Being in Love,” “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” “There Will Never Be Another You,” and “I’m Confessin’.” The 1997 CD reissue augments the original dozen songs with a version of the good-humored “It Takes Two to Tango” (which features Young’s only recorded vocals) and has a rather unnecessary false start (“I Can’t Get Started”), along with some studio chatter. Essential music. – Scott Yanow