Lester Young - Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Defying what has become conventional wisdom, tenor saxophonist Lester Young cut some of his greatest recordings in the 1950s -- that is, when he was reasonably healthy. 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'." This is essential music from a jazz legend. [Some reissues augment the original dozen songs with a version of the good-humored "It Takes Two to Tango," which features Young's only recorded vocals, plus a rather unnecessary false start (on "I Can't Get Started," ironically), along with some studio chatter.]

01 Ad Lib Blues 0:00 02 I Can't Get Started 5:54 03 Just You, Just Me 9:35 04 Almost Like Being in Love 17:16 05 Tea for Two 20:51 06 There Will Never Be Another You 28:36 07 (Back Home Again In) Indiana 32:05 08 On the Sunny Side of the Street 39:09 09 Stardust 42:37 10 (I'm) Confessin' (That I Love You) 46:13 11 I Can't Give You Anything But Love 49:55 12 These Foolish Things 53:18 13 (It Takes) Two to Tango 56:52 14 I Can't Get Started 1:03:00

Lester Young – tenor saxophone, vocals on Two To Tango Oscar Peterson – piano Barney Kessel – guitar Ray Brown – double bass J. C. Heard - drums

Recorded: On November 28, 1952