Where Swing is King!
“Back to the Land” Composed by Lester Young. Recorded by the Lester Young Trio in late March-Early April 1946 for Mercury Records in Los Angeles, California. Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Nat “King” Cole, piano; Buddy [..]
“Oh, Lady Be Good” Composed by George Gershwin; head arrangement. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca on February 4, 1939 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, piano, directing: Ed Lewis, first [..]
“Lester Leaps In” Composed by Lester Young; “head” arrangement by Lester Young and Count Basie. Recorded by Count Basie Kansas City Seven for Vocalion on September 3, 1939 in New York. (Session produced by John [..]
“Jive at Five” Composed and arranged by Harry Edison. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca on February 4, 1939 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, piano, directing: Lester “Shad” Collins, [..]
“Lester’s Dream” Composed by Count Basie and Lester Young; informal head arrangement by Benny Goodman and Count Basie. Recorded by Benny Goodman for Columbia on October 28, 1940 in New York.(*) Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: [..]
“Countless Blues” Composed by Milt Gabler; arranged by Eddie Durham. Recorded by The Kansas City Six for Commodore Records on September 8,(*) 1938 in New York. Eddie Durham, electric guitar, directing: Lester Young, clarinet; Wilbur [..]
“Taxi War Dance” Composed by Count Basie and Lester Young; head arrangement organized by Count Basie. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Columbia-Vocalion on March 19, 1939 in New York. William J. “Count” [..]
“Every Tub” Composed by Count Basie and Eddie Durham; “Head” arrangement worked out by Count Basie, Eddie Durham and the members of the Basie band. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca [..]
“Blue and Sentimental” Composed by Count Basie; arranged by Eddie Durham. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca on June 6, 1938 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, directing: Ed Lewis [..]
“Easy Does It” Composed by Sy Oliver and James “Trummy” Young; arranged by Jimmy Mundy. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Columbia on March 20, 1940 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, [..]
“It Never Entered My Mind” Composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Recorded by George Shearing for Concord Jazz in San Francisco, California in May of 1985. George Shearing, solo piano. The story: Two of [..]
The Story: Lester Willis Young, one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, was born on August 27, 1909, in Woodville, Mississippi. After a lengthy apprenticeship spent in numerous black territory bands [..]
“Jumpin’ at the Woodside” Composed by Count Basie; “Head” arrangement worked out by members of the Basie band. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca on August 22, 1938 in New York. [..]
Mosaic Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie and Lester Young Studio Sessions First Impressions: Yesterday I received the new Mosaic set of recordings featuring Count Basie and Lester Young. Whenever I receive any set of Mosaic recordings, [..]