This compilation of Lester Young recordings from the mid-'40s comes from several sources. The first six tracks were made in 1944 for the documentary #Jammin' the Blues (though only three songs were heard in the film), previously issued under the same title by Musidisc and also by Jazz Archives as Jammin' With Lester. Young is in good form with either Marlowe Morris or Garland Finney on piano, guitarist Barney Kessel, either Red Callendar or John Simmons on bass, and Sid Catlett or Jo Jones on drums. The obscure singer Marie Bryant is added for On the Sunny Side of the Street and If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight), and Dicky Wells and Illinois Jacquet also appear on several numbers. The highlights of this historic session include the title track (a riff tune featuring Young's best solo of the date) and a swinging Sweet Georgia Brown. The remaining music comes from several different Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts in 1946, all of which have been previously issued by Verve. While this material also has historic value, several tracks are incomplete and the sound reproduction ranges from good to barely acceptable. Most fans of Lester Young will want the 1944 recordings in some form, so anyone owning earlier CDs with this material need not purchase this English reissue. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		Midnight Symphony
2		On the Sunny Side of the Street
3		Sweet Georgia Brown
4		If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
5		Blues for Marvin
6		Jammin' the Blues
7		Crazy Rhythm
8		The Man I Love
9		Tea for Two
10		D.B. Blues
11		I Got Rhythm
12		Blues
13		Just You, Just Me
14		I Got Rhythm