Lester Young Small Groups

Studio Sessions

Jones-Smith Incorporated Oct 9, 1936; Chicago.
Carl Smith (tp), Count Basie (p), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl).

Shoe Shine Boy (Shoe Shine Swing) 2 takes
Evenin'
Boogie Woogie
[Oh] Lady Be Good

Count Basie Sextet June 3, 1938; New York City; Private studio session.
Buck Clayton (tp), Count Basie (p), Freddie Greene (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Helen Humes (vcl).

Mortgage Stomp
Don't Be That Way
Blues with Helen
Song of the Wanderer
Allez Oop

Kansas City Six September 27, 1938; New York City; Commodore.
Lester Young (cl, ts), Buck Clayton (t), Eddie Durham (tb, solo g), Freddie Green (g, vcl), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d).

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (2 takes)
Countless Blues (2 takes)
Them There Eyes (2 takes)
I Want a Little Girl (2 takes)
Pagin' the Devil (2 takes)

Count Basie and His Sextet February 2, 1939; New York City; Decca.
Shad Collins (tp), Lester Young (ts), Basie (p), Freddy Greene (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl).

You Can Depend on Me

Basie's Bad Boys February 13, 1939; Chicago; Columbia.

I Ain't Got Nobody
Goin' to Chicago [Blues]
[Let Me] Live and Love Tonight
Love Me Or Leave Me

Glenn Hardmann and His Hammond Five June 26, 1939; Chicago; Vocalion.

China Boy
Exactly Like You
Exactly Like You
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Upright Organ Blues
Who?
Jazz Me Blues

Count Basie's Kansas City Seven September 5, 1939; New York City; Vocalion.
Buck Clayton (tp), Dickie Wells (tbn), Lester Young (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddy Greene (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d).

Dickie's Dream (2 takes)
Lester Leaps In (2 takes)

Benny Goodman Septet October 28, 1940; New York City.
Buck Clayton (tp), Benny Goodman (cl), Count Basie (p), Charlie Christian, Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d)

Ad-Lib Blues
I Never Knew
Charlie's Dream
Wholly Cats
Lester's Dream

Una Mae Carlisle with Orchestra March 10, 1941; New York City; Bluebird.
Shad collins (tp), Clyde Hart (p), John Collins (g), Nick Fenton (b), Doc West (d), Una Mae Carlisle (vcl)

Blitzkrieg Baby
Beautiful Eyes
There'll Be Some Changes Made
It's Sad But True

Sam Price and His Texas Blusicians April 3, 1941; New York City; Decca.

The Goon Drag (Gone Wid De Goon)
Things' Bout Coming My Way
Lead Me Daddy Straight to the Bar
Just Jivin' Around

Lester Young-Nat King Cole Trio July 15, 1942; Los Angeles; Philo/Aladdin.
Nat King Cole (p), Red Callender (b).

Indiana
I Can't Get Started
Tea for Two
Body and Soul

Dickie Wells and His Orchestra December 21, 1943; New York City; Signature.
Bill Coleman (t), Dickie Wells (tb), Ellis Larkins (p), Freddie Greene (g), Al Hall (b), Jo Jones (d).

I Got Rhythm
I'm Fer It Too
Hello Babe
Linger Awhile

Lester Young Quartet December 28, 1943; New York City; Keynote.
Johnny Guarnieri (p), Slam Stewart (b), Sid Catlett (d).

Just You, Just Me (2 takes)
I Never Knew (2 takes)
Afternoon of a Basie-ite (2 takes)
Sometimes I'm Happy

Kansas City Seven March 22, 1944; New York City; Keynote.
Buck Clayton (tp), Dickie Wells (tb), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Jo Jones (d).

After Theatre jump
Six Cats and a Prince (2 takes)
Lester Leaps Again
Destination K. C. (2 takes)

Kansas City Six March 28, 1944; New York City; Commodore.
Bill Coleman (tp), Dicky Wells (tb), Joe Bushkin (p), John Simmonds (b), Jo Jones (d).

Three Little Words (4 takes)
Jo-Jo (4 takes)
I Got Rhythm (3 takes)
Four O'Clock Drag (2 takes)

Johnny Guarnieri Swing Men April 18, 1944; New York City; Savoy.
Billy Butterfield (tp), Hank d'Amico (cl), Lester Young (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Dexter Hall (g), Billy Taylor (b), Cozy Cole (d).

These Foolish Things
Exercise in Swing (4 takes)
Salute to Fats (4 takes)
Basie English (2 takes)

Earl Warren and His Orchestra April 18, 1944; New York City; Savoy.
Joe Newman, Al Killain, ed Lewis, Harry Edison (tp),Eli Robinson, Dicky Wells, Ted Donnelly, Lou Taylor (tb),Earl Warren, Jimmy Powell (as), Lester Young, Buddy Tate (ts), Rudy Rutherford (bars), Clyde Hart (p), Freddie Green (g),Rodney Richardson (b), Jo Jones (d).

Empty Hearted
Circus in Rhythm (3 takes)
Poor Little Plaything (2 takes)
Tush (2 takes)

Lester Young Quintet May 1, 1944; New York City; Savoy.
Lester Young (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddie Greene (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Shadow Wilson (d).

Blue Lester (Lester's Blues)
(I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance (2 takes)
Indiana (2 takes)
Jump Lester Jump (Lester's Savoy jump)

Lester Young and His Band December 1945; Los Angeles; Aladdin.
Vic Dickenson (tb), Dodo Marmorosa (p), Red Callender (b), Henry Tucker Green (d).

D.B. Blues
Lester Blows Again
These Foolish Things
Jumpin' at Mesner's

Helen Humes and Her All Stars December 1945 or January 1946; Los Angeles; Philo/Aladdin.
Humes (vcl), Willie Smith (as), Maxwell Davis, Lester Young (ts), Jimmy bunn (p), Dave Barbour (g), Junior Rudd (b), Henry Tucker (d).

Please Let Me Forget
Pleasing Man Blues
He Don't Love Me Anymore
See See Rider
It's Better to Give Than to Receive

Lester Young and His Band Probably January 1946; Los Angeles; Aladdin.
Willie Smith (as), Howard McGhee (tp), Vic Dickenson (tb), Wesley Jones (p), Curtis Counce (b), Johnny Otis (d).

It's Only a Paper Moon
After You've Gone
Lover Come Back to Me
Jammin' with Lester

Lester Young-Buddy Rich Trio Late March or April 1946; Los Angeles; Clef.
Nat 'King' Cole (p), Buddy Rich (d).

Back to the Land
I Cover the Waterfront (2 takes)
Somebody Loves Me
I've Found a New Baby
The Man I Love
Peg o' My Heart
I Want to Be Happy
Mean to Me

Lester Young and His Band August 1946; Los Angeles; Aladdin.
Joe Albany (p), Irving Ashby (g), Red Callender (b), Chico Hamilton (d).

You're Driving Me Crazy
[New] Lester Leaps In
Lester's Be Bop [Boogie]
She's Funny That Way

Lester Young and His Band October, 1946; Chicago; Aladdin.
Shorty McConnell (tp), Argonne Thornton (p), Fred Lacey (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Lyndell Marshall (d).

Sunday
S.M. Blues
Jumpin' with Symphony Sid
No Eyes Blues
Sax-O-Re-Bop (Sax-O-Be-Bop)
On the Sunny Side of the Street

Lester Young and His Band February 18, 1947; New York City; Aladdin.
Shorty McConnell (tp), Argonne Thornton (p), Fred Lacey (g),Ted Biscoe (b), Roy Haynes (d).

Movin' with Lester
One O'Clock Jump
Jumpin' at the Woodside
Easy Does It

Lester Young and His Band December 28 and 30, 1947; New York City; Aladdin.
Shorty McConnell (tp), Argonne Thornton (p), Nasir Barakaat (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Lyndell Marshall (d).

Just Coolin'
I'm Confessin'
Lester Smooths It Out

Lester Young and His Band December 29, 1948; New York City; Aladdin.
Gene DiNovi (p), Chuck Wayne (g), Curly Russell (b), Tiny Kahn (d).

Tea for Two
East of the Sun
The Sheik of Araby
Something to Remember You By

Lester Young Sextet June 28, 1949; New York City, Savoy.
Jess Drakes (tp), Jerry Elliott (tbn), Lester Young (ts), Junior Mance (p), Leroy Jackson (bs), Roy Haynes (d).

Crazy Over J-Z (3 takes)
Ding Dong (3 takes)
Blues 'N Bells (3 takes)
June Bug (Lester Digs)

Lester Young Quartet March 1950; New York City; Clef.
Hank Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).

Too Marvelous for Words
'Deed I Do
Encore
Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Up 'N Adam

Lester Young Quartet July 1950; New York City; Clef.
John Lewis (ts), Joe Shulman (b), Bill Clarke (d).

Three Little Words
Count Every Star
It All Depends on You
Neenah
Jeepers Creepers

Lester Young Quartet January 16, 1951; New York City; Clef.
John Lewis (ts), Gene Ramey (b), Jo Jones (d).

Thou Swell
September in the Rain
Undercover Girl Blues
Frenesi
Pete's Cafe
Little Pee Blues

Lester Young Quartet March 8, 1951; New York City; Clef.
John Lewis (ts), Gene Ramey (b), Jo Jones (d).

A Foggy Day
In a Little Spanish Town
Let's Fall in Love
Down 'N Adam
Lester Swings
Slow Motion Blues

Lester Young with Oscar Peterson Trio August 4, 1952; New York City; Clef/ Norgran.
Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d).

Ad Lib Blues
Just You, Just Me
Tea for Two
Indiana
These Foolish Things
I Can't Get Started
Stardust
(It Takes) Two to Tango
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
I'm Confessin'

Metronome All Stars with Billy Eckstine July 9, 1953; New York City; MGM

How High the Moon, Parts I and 1I
St Louis Blues, Parts I and I

Lester Young Quintet December 11, 1953; New York City; Norgran.
Jesse Drake (tp), Gildo Mahones (p), Gene Ramey (b), Connie Kay (d).

Willow Weep for Me
This Can't Be Love
Can't We Be Friends
Tenderly
New D.B. Blues
Jumpin' at the Woodside
I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me
Lady Be Good

Lester Young and His Band December 10, 1954; New York City; Norgran.
Jesse Drake (tp), Gildo Mahones (p), John Ore (b), Connie Kay (d).

Another Mambo
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Rose Room
Somebody Loves Me
Kiss (Touch) Me Again
It Don't Mean a Thing
I'm in the Mood for Love
Big Top Blues

Lester Young-Harry Edison All Stars November 1, 1955; Los Angeles; Norgran.

Mean to Me
That's All
Red Boy Blues
Pennies from Heaven
She's Funny That Way
One O'Clock Jump
It's the Talk of the Town

The Jazz Giants '56 January 12, 1956; New York City; Norgran.
Vic Dickenson (tb), Roy Eldridge (tp), Teddy Wilson (p), Freddie Green (g), Gene Ramey (b), Jo Jones (d).

I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Gigantic Blues
This Year's Kisses
You Can Depend on Me

Lester Young-Teddy Wilson Quartet January 13, 1956; New York City; Verve.
Teddy Wilson (p), Gene Ramey (b), Jo Jones (d).

Pres Returns
Prisoner of Love
Taking a Chance On Love
All of Me
Louise
(Our) Love Is Here To Stay
Love Me Or Leave Me

Lester Young All Stars July 31, 1957; Los Angeles; Verve.

St. Tropez
Flic
Our Love Is Here to Stay

Lester Young All Stars February 7, 1958; New York City; Verve.

Waldorf Blues
Sunday
You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me

Lester Young All Stars February 8, 1958; New York City; Verve.
Roy Eldridge, Harry Edison (tp), Lester Young (cl, ts), Hank Jones (p), Herb Ellis (g), George Duvivier (b), Mickey Sheen (d).

Romping
Gypsy in My Soul
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
They Can't Take That Away from Me
Salute to Benny
Medley (The Very Thought of You, I Want a Little Girl, Blue and Sentimental)

Lester Young Quintet March 4, 1959; Paris; Verve.
Rene Urtreger (p), Jimmy Gourley (g), Jamil Nasser (b), Kenny Clarke (d).

[0h] Lady Be Good
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Almost Like Being in Love
Three Little Words
I Cover the Waterfront
I Can't Get Started
Indiana
Pennies from Heaven
New D.B. Blues
Lullaby of Birdland
There Will Never Be Another You
Tea for Two

Last updated August 16, 2000