ProJazz.net

“Uptown’s 2013 release Boston 1950 features highlights from a series of concerts the great tenor saxophonist Lester Young gave at Boston’s Hi-Hat between May 26 and June 11, 1950. He was performing with trumpeter Jesse Drakes, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Joe Schulman, and drummer Connie Kay. Lester was at one of his peaks during the late ’40s and early ’50s and these performances have an appealing blend of lively jump and warmth, qualities that are apparent even underneath the somewhat thin audio quality. Listen beyond those compressed sonics and you’ll find thoroughly enjoyable, big-hearted hard bop that’s something of a joy to hear. The CD concludes with two tracks from a 1953 date at the Hi-Hat where Young was playing once again with Kay and Drakes but pianist Horace Silver and bassist Franklin Skeete rounded out the band.” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine/AllMusic .

“In 1950, jazz was experiencing a brief lull. Bebop’s popularity was fading, cool jazz was gaining favor and hard bop was still two years away. Record sales were down as Columbia’s and RCA’s new formats—the 33 1/3 LP and the 45-rpm, respectively—battled for supremacy. The result was a confused marketplace as consumer decided to stick with what they owned rather than invest in new phonographs. As jazz and technology caught their breath, Young demonstrated once again that expressing your feelings through your instrument while improvising was high art and eternal.” – AllAboutJazz .

Track listing:
1 Jumpin’ With Symphony sid (Lester Young) {Fragment Wiht Allison Introductions} 1:12
2 Too Marvelous For Words (Johnny Mercer, Richard Whiting) 5:53
3 She’s Funny That Way (Charles Daniels, Richard Whiting) 3:09
4 You Can Depend On Me (Charles Carpenter, Earl Hines, Louis Dunlap) 6:19
5 How High The Moon [Incomplete] (William Lewis, Nancy Hamilton) 2:01
6 The Talk Of The Town (Al Neiburg, Jerry Livingston, Marty Symes) 3:43
7 On A Slow Boat To China (Frank Loesser) 5:03
8 Indiana (Ballard MacDonald, James Hanley) 4:10
9 Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Fragment) (Lester Young) 0:15
10 Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Fragment) (Lester Young) 0:51
11 Sunday (Bennie Krueger, Chester Conn, Jule Styne, Ned Miller) 5:24
12 Body And Soul (Edward Heyman, Johnny Green, Robert Sour) 3:38
13 Four Flats Unfurnished (Lester Young) 5:08
14 Jeepers Creepers (incomplete) (Harry Warren , Johnny Mercer) 4:10
15 Up ‘N’ Adam (Lester Young) 7:20
16 Jeepers Creepers (Incomplete) (Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, Mack David) 5:42

Personnel:
Franklin Skeete (tracks: 15, 16), Joe Schulman (tracks: 1 to 14) – bass
Connie Kay – drums
Steve Allison (tracks: 1 to 14), “Symphony Sid” Torin* (tracks: 15, 16) – MC
Horace Silver (tracks: 15, 16), Kenny Drew (tracks: 1 to 14) – piano
Lester Young – tenor saxophone
Jesse Drakes – trumpet
_____________________________________________________

Label: Uptown Records ‎– UPCD 27.71
Series: Flashback Series
Format: CD, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 18 Jun 2013
Duration: 01:03:58

Previously unissued live radio broadcasts from the Hi-Hat.
Tracks 1-9 likely recorded on June 4, 1950 and tracks 10-14 on June 11, 1950.
Tracks 15 & 16 were recorded on February 1, 1953.