Klarinet Archive - Posting 000136.txt from 1994/07
From: Cary Karp <ck@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Lester Young's solo clarinet recordings
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 1994 08:45:43 -0400
This list isn't particularly busy at the moment, so I trust nobody
will feel their mailboxes to be overstuffed by my Lester Young
clarinet discography. I'd really appreciate any help that might be
offered in tracking down items 24-31 (no pun intended).
The discographic information provided below describes the solo
clarinet recordings made by Lester Young. These can be grouped into
two periods, of which the first was 1938-39 and the second 1957-58.
Although he played ensemble clarinet on numerous additional
recordings, many predating the earliest included here, the first solo
period was delimited by the acquistion and theft of his metal
clarinet. He suspended his solo clarinet activities at the latter
point, as legend has it, being unable to find another such instrument
which was to his liking.
In 1957, Lester Young obtained a new metal clarinet (said to be the
gift of a fan) and used it for three recording sessions during that
and the following year. Again as the tale is told, he did so without
getting fully back into shape as a clarinetist, and the quality of
the clarinet takes from this second period is often regarded as
inferior to his earlier clarinet material.
* * *
Note: Personnel listings refer to entire recording sessions.
Individual takes may not involve the full session personnel.
Count Basie Sextet, NYC, June 3, 1938, private studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Count Basie (p), Buck Clayton (tr),
Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (dr), Helen Humes (voc).
1. Blues with Helen
2. Song of the Wanderer
Count Basie and his Orchestra, NYC, June 6, 1938, Decca studio:
Herschel Evans, Lester Young (clt,ts), Earle Warren (as), Jack
Washington (as,bars), Count Basie (p), Ed Lewis, Harry Edison, Buck
Clayton (tr), Eddie Durham, Benny Morton, Dan Minor (tb), Freddie
Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (dr), Jimmy Rushing (voc).
3. Blue and Sentimental (63918-A)
Count Basie and his Orchestra, NYC, Aug 22, 1938, Decca studio:
Herschel Evans, Lester Young (clt,ts), Earle Warren (as), Jack
Washington (as,bars), Count Basie (p), Ed Lewis, Harry Edison, Buck
Clayton (tr), Dicky Wells, Benny Morton, Dan Minor (tb), Freddie
Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (dr), Helen Humes (voc).
4. Texas Shuffle (64473-A)
Count Basie and his Orchestra, NYC, Sept 6, 1938, CBS radio broadcast:
Herschel Evans, Lester Young (clt,ts), Earle Warren (as), Jack
Washington (as,bars), Count Basie (p), Ed Lewis, Harry Edison, Buck
Clayton (tr), Dicky Wells, Benny Morton, Dan Minor (tb), Freddie
Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (dr).
5. Indiana
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra, NYC, Sept 15, 1938, Vocalion studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Billie Holiday (voc), Buck Clayton (tr), Dicky
Wells (tb), Margaret "Queenie" Johnson (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter
Page (b), Jo Jones (dr).
6. The Very Thought of You (23467-1)
7. I've Got a Date with a Dream (23469-1)
8. I've Got a Date with a Dream (23469-2)
Kansas City Six, NYC, Sept 27, 1938, Commodore studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Buck Clayton (tr), Eddie Durham (elg),
Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (dr), Freddie Green (g,voc).
9. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (23421-1)
10. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (23421-2)
11. Countless Blues (23422-1)
12. Countless Blues (23422-2)
13. Them There Eyes (23423-1)
14. Them There Eyes (23423-2)
15. I Want a Little Girl (23424-1)
16. I Want a Little Girl (23424-2)
17. Pagin' the Devil (23425-1)
18. Pagin' the Devil (23425-2)
Kansas City Six, NYC, Dec 23, 1938, Carnegie Hall concert:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Buck Clayton (tr), Leonard Ware (elg),
Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (dr).
19. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
Basie's Bad Boys, Chicago, Feb 13, 1939, United studio (for Columbia):
Lester Young (clt,ts), Count Basie (p,org), Buck Clayton, Shad
Collins (tr), Dicky Wells (tb), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b),
Jo Jones (dr), Jimmy Rushing (voc).
20. I Ain't Got Nobody (24510-1)
21. Goin' to Chicago (24511-1)
Glenn Hardmann and his Hammond Five, Chicago, June 26, 1939, studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Glenn Hardmann (org), Lee Castle (tr),
Freddie Green (g), Jo Jones (dr).
22. On the Sunny Side of the Street (WC2638-A)
23. Who? (WC2640-A)
Lester Young Sextet, Los Angeles, July 31, 1957, Verve studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Harry Edison (tr), Oscar Peterson (p),
Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Louis Bellson (dr).
24. St. Tropez (21205-1) unissued when recorded but subsequently
available
25. St. Tropez (21205-2) issued on Verve MGV 8298
Lester Young All Stars, NYC, Feb 8, 1958, Verve studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Harry Edison, Roy Elridge (tr), Hank Jones (p),
Herb Ellis (g), George Duvier (b), Mickey Sheen (dr).
26. They Can't Take That Away from Me (21932-9)
27. Salute to Benny (21933-2)
Lester Young All Stars, NYC, Mar 23, 1958, Verve studio:
Lester Young (clt,ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g),
Ray Brown (b), Louis Bellson (dr).
28. Clarinet Blues unissued
29. Jeepers Creepers unissued
30. Mean to Me unissued
31. Sunday unissued
(It is commonly assumed that the tapes from this session were
deliberately destroyed.)
Cary Karp <ck@-----.se>
