cxxxiv. YOUNG, Lester (1909-1959)
Body and Soul (1942)
LY, tenor saxophone
Nat Cole, piano
Red Callender, bass
(5:10)
from The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Lester Young.
Nobody played like "Prez."
The nickname came from Billie Holiday, comparing him to Franklin Roosevelt -- "the greatest man around." In turn, he nicknamed her "Lady Day."
Here -- with just piano and bass accompaniment -- he blows his way through this great standard with the coolness of his sound -- laying back behind the beat, and plunging down to the lowest notes on the instrument.
Cole and Callender keep everything simple -- you can almost hear an imaginary drummer playing with brushes.
Cole solos with block chords and moves things up a half step for Callender's solo.
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