The first track is poor but is claimed to have been restored by a sound studio. At the time it seemed to be the only recorded evidence of his playing but the later tracks here were subsequently discovered. These other tracks are of reasonable quality.
Lennie was very active in music but never recorded commercially and his career is best summed up by the following published obituary.
LENNIE BEST (1927-2002) – OBITUARY BY COLIN BARNES,
JAZZ JOURNAL, AUGUST 2002
The name of Lennie Best, British modern jazz vibes player, is inexplicably absent from the major biographical books. The Grove Dictionary of Jazz, The Essential Companion, The Rough Guide,, John Chilton's Who's Who, The Biographical Dictionary and Leonard Feather's famous trilogy all fail to give even a cursory mention.
Nevertheless, he was a significant figure in British modern jazz although obviously not famous in the way that Tubby Hayes et al were. There are not many vibes players, after all.
Lennie Best died in May 2002 aged 75. He was an important figure in the British modern scene of the 1950s and 1960s and remained playing right up to his death. His last gig was at the Gun Tavern in Croydon along with Alan Berry (p), Tony Archer (b), and Trevor Tomkins (d) just before Christmas 2001.
During his long career he was a regular at the Marquee Club in its Oxford Street guise, the Flamingo, The Bulls Head at Barnes and played a particularly memorable fortnight opposite Dexter Gordon at Ronnie Scott's club. His quartet played many BBC broadcasts and had the privilege of accompanying 'greats' like Dick Morrisey and Don Rendell on many gigs. American stars such as Bill Coleman, Jon Eardley and Kai Winding worked with his quartet at various times. Musicians of the calibre of Brian Dee, Stan Jones, Tony Lee and Dave Holland were also members of his quartet over the years.
Milt Jackson was Lennie's idol and he had a complete knowledge of the Bebop classic 'songbook' and blues cannon. He possessed a great sound on the instrument, always 'burning', and played prettily on ballads. What more would you need?
Forceful, charismatic and witty, Lennie was proud of his chosen music and contemptuous of those people who could not or would not understand modern jazz—the 'cloth-eared ones' as he called them.
Lennie is survived by his wife Joan, son Tim (both fine pianists) and his daughters Jane and Sally.
Music from CDR originally provided by an anonymous donor and with 'cover' also as provided.
(01)
Lennie Best - vibes
Stan Jones - piano
Tron Svenevig - bass
Ted Potter - drums
(02-07)
Lennie Best - vibes
Alan Berry - piano
Ron Rubin - bass
Colin Barnes - drums
Norma Winstone - vocal (02 04)
Introductions by Humphrey Lyttelton and Ian Carr
01 St Vitus Dance (Silver) (4:05)
02 What's My Name (Saxon) (3:22)
03 Love For Sale (Porter) (4:04)
04 In The Still Of The Night (Porter) (3:57)
05 Innefable (Heath) (5:06)
06 Clay's Blues (Jackson) (4:12)
07 Lover Man (Davis, Ramirez, Sherman) (4:53)
Recorded BBC Paris Cinema 1962 (01) December 27 1967 (02-07)
Lineage: CDR>FLAC
