Lester Young Le Dernier Message De Lester Young 180g LP & 10" Vinyl

Tracking Angle Rated 7/11 Music, 9/11 Sonics!

12" LP - March 4, 1959, Barclay Studio, Paris. Original LP Issue: Barclay 84.069:
In January 1959, Lester Young was in Paris for a series of concerts at the famous Blue Note Club. He played with René Urtreger on piano, Kenny Clarke on drums, Jimmy Gourley on guitar and Jamil Nasser on bass. On March 4, 1959, Eddie Barclay decided to record Lester at Studio Barclay, which would be his last album. This legendary recording session is poignant and moving in line with Coleman Hawkins' Sirius and the last recording of Billie Holiday. Lester Young is reduced but the grace and genius are still there. Some days later, on March 15, 1959, the 'Prez' succumbed to a heart attack at the Alvin hotel, a few hours after arriving in New York.

Bonus 10" Vinyl - March 11, 1959, RTF Radio Studio, Paris:
On March 11, 1959, a legend went into a Parisian studio and recorded a version of "D.B. Blues" for the French Radio Television show Carrefour du Jazz. This title, recorded with musicians Idrees Sulieman (trumpet), Jimmy Gourley (guitar), Oscar Dennard (piano), Jamil Nasser (double bass) and Earl 'Buster' Smith (drums), would be the last recording of the great Lester Young.

I have never heard a Barclay pressing of Le Dernier Message, but I own an original Verve copy of Lester Young in Paris. I preferred the Sam reissue to my Verve. The Sam was smoother and more well balanced tonally with a 'tubey' midrange. Bass was a bit deeper and more melodic. The Verve was harsher tonally with a thinner midrange. Bass was a bit thumpy compared to the Sam. Most importantly, Lester's sax was fuller, more dynamic and 3D mono on the Sam... Clearly, considerable effort has been expended by Mr. Fred Thomas, owner of the Sam 'one man label' to produce a record that is a beautiful objet d' art. He has succeeded... a highly recommended purchase.