The Lester Young – Teddy Wilson Quartet – Pres And Teddy 1956 (1988)

01. All Of Me (5:11)
02. Prisoner Of Love (7:40)
03. Louise (5:18)
04. Love Me Or Leave Me (6:51)
05. Taking A Chance On Love (5:11)
06. Our Love Is Here To Stay (6:31)
07. Pres Returns (6:19)

Musicians:
    Teddy Wilson – piano
    Lester Young – tenor saxophone
    Gene Ramey – bass
    Jo Jones – drums

In the 1950s, producer Norman Granz brought many of the previous decade's biggest jazz stars into the studio in order to capture their immense talent, and hopefully revive some careers in the process. The names now read like a who's who of the jazz hall of fame -- Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Lionel Hampton, Art Tatum (for a different label however), Teddy Wilson and Lester Young. "Pres" as he was also known, was famous for his smooth, singing tenor saxophone voice, and it has never been better showcased than on his collaboration with pianist Teddy Wilson. The quartet, which is rounded out by Gene Ramey on bass and Jo Jones on drums, glides through six standards, and one Young original (the CD bonus track "Pres Returns"). "Pres and Teddy" has to rank right up there with any and all Verve recordings from the 50s -- which is pretty impressive considering the competition is classic albums like "Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson," not to mention all those great Bird recordings. "Pres and Teddy" is truly a summit meeting of presidential powers. --- Michael B. Richman

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