i remember when i was an undergraduate.

my tutors were freaked out by my playing my collection of glenn miller, duke ellington. my faves in that early rock n roll era.

and this is not to say that i didn't like r n r. oh, i did. i used to book r n r bands back then.

but i had this passion for big band jass.

i want to give michael cuscuna a major round of applause. for all his tireless efforts to restore the jass past on the mosaic label.

today, i received his latest labor of love. lester young with the count basie orchestra [1936-1940].

fabulous stuff.

prez was a great player.

his acolyte, in my view, was wardell gray. who met an untimely death outside of vegas.

if you can find the masters of jazz discs of lester young, then wardell gray, i recommend that you do it. if you like this stuff.