Standards: Great Songs Great Performances

Verve's Standards: Great Songs/Great Performances contains previously released tracks taken from Lester Young's stint with the label. Aimed at the casual listener, the eight tunes include such classics as "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Oh Lady, Be Good!" "Stardust," and the second take of "I Cover the Waterfront" from a 1946 session with Nat Cole and Buddy Rich. The highlights presented here should be enough to keep the novice jazz listener interested in searching out more material, especially Lester Swings, 13 tunes culled from the massive eight-disc box set Complete Lester Young Studio Sessions on Verve. ~ Al Campbell