The Kansas City Sessions

by Lester Young

Overview

This is a CD overflowing with classic performances. The great Lester Young is heard with the 1938 version of the Kansas City Six, a group also including trumpeter Buck Clayton (in prime form), Eddie Durham on electric guitar (where he preceded Charlie Christian) and trombone, the rhythm guitar of Freddie Green, bassist Walter Page, and drummer Jo Jones. The four selections (all of which are joined by an alternate take apiece) are most notable for Young's switching to clarinet on some of the pieces. His clarinet solo on "I Want a Little Girl" sounds eerily like Paul Desmond's alto of 15 years later. These classic cool jazz performances have delightful interplay between the two horns. The second part of the reissue features the 1944 Kansas City Six in which Young (sticking to tenor) and trumpeter Bill Coleman are joined by a three-piece rhythm section and trombonist Dickie Wells. Wells, who takes some very colorful and nearly riotous solos, rarely sounded better, and the four selections are highlighted by three equally rewarding versions of "I Got Rhythm" and two of "Three Little Words." The CD concludes with the four titles by 1938's Kansas City Five, which was essentially the early Kansas City Six without Young. Clayton is once again in top form, and Durham's guitar solos were among the first worthwhile examples of the electric guitar on record. This gem is highly recommended for all jazz collections. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	12/03/2021
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031451489
Rank:	98129

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lester Young   Primary Artist,Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Kansas City Five   Primary Artist
Kansas City Six   Primary Artist
Jo Jones   Guest Artist,Drums
Walter Page   Guest Artist,Bass
Freddie Green   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Buck Clayton   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Bill Coleman   Trumpet
Eddie Durham   Trombone,Guitar (Electric)
Joe Bushkin   Piano
Dicky Wells   Trombone
John Simmons   Bass

Technical Credits

John Hammond   Producer
Kansas City Five   Performer
Steve Lasker   Restoration,Series Director,Transfers
Bob Todd   Composer
John Hammond, Sr.   Producer
Jimmy Rushing   Composer
Cornell Todd   Composer
Count Basie   Composer
Eddie Durham   Composer
Charles F. Kenny   Composer
Nick A. Kenny   Composer
Milt Gabler   Composer,Producer
William Tracey   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Henry Creamer   Composer
Vincent Youmans   Composer
Harry Ruby   Composer
Bert Kalmar   Composer
Billy Moll   Composer
Joe Bushkin   Composer
Orrin Keepnews   Reissue Producer
Murray Mencher   Composer
John Kang   Art Direction,Graphic Design
Shelly Fierston   Production Coordination
Charles Peterson   Photography
Bobo Todd   Composer
Kim Munson   Reissue Producer,Assistant Producer
Burt Goldblatt   Photography
Anne Caldwell   Composer
Walter Donaldson   Composer
Doris Tauber   Composer
Walter Page   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Erick Labson   Digital Remastering
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Maceo Pinkard   Composer
Loren Schoenberg   Annotation,Liner Notes
Kansas City Six   Performer
Turner Layton   Composer