The 40 tracks on these two discs include everything Lester Young recorded for the Aladdin Company in the 1940s. The opening trio titles with Young backed by Nat King Cole and bass player Red Callender date from 1942, the remainder from late 1945 to early 1948. Despite critical opinion that the US Army had robbed Young of his true musical talent during his military service, his playing is of a very high level here, especially so on the quintet dates with pianists Joe Albany and Dodo Marmarosa. In fact his version of "These Foolish Things" from the Marmarosa session is as great an improvisation as he ever created in his playing career. There are plenty of indications that Young was intrigued by the new wave then sweeping through jazz. Beboppers such as Marmarosa, Albany, Argonne Thornton and Gene DiNovi play piano on various sessions while trumpeter Howard McGhee and drummers Roy Haynes and Tiny Kahn are also present on some dates. For the sake of completeness the session under vocalist Helen Humes' name has been included on the strength of Young's presence in the backing group. The rare "Riffin' Without Helen" instrumental has also been included. --Steve Voce