This 1955 recording of "Mean to Me" pairs two former Count Basie Orchestra alumni, tenor saxophonist Lester Young and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, in a relaxed swing setting backed by the Oscar Peterson Trio. The session, released as Pres & Sweets on the Norgran label, captures Young in his later period, his tone darker and more weathered than the airy sound of his revolutionary 1930s recordings, yet still possessed of the rhythmic originality that changed jazz saxophone forever. Young opens the solo section with one chorus of elegant, floating tenor at 153 BPM, his characteristically laid-back phrasing falling behind the beat with studied nonchalance. Edison follows with two choruses of muted trumpet, his nickname "Sweets" perfectly describing the honeyed, economical approach that made him one of the most distinctive voices in swing. Peterson then contributes two powerhouse piano choruses, his virtuosic runs and block chords contrasting with the relaxed front-line statements. The Fred Ahlert standard provides an ideal AABA framework for these three master improvisers, each bringing a distinctly personal voice to the familiar 32-bar form.
