La Balance (1982) [repost]

This 8 piece funk band from Louisiana (hence the spelling "LA.", instead of "L.A.") was discovered by Cameo frontman Larry Blackmon, who produced their first and only album, "LA. Connection", released in 1982. The album features the entire Cameo cast but failed due to weak promotion.

This was an excellent outing by the Count Basie Orchestra during its later years. Actually, half of this album features a medium-sized group from Basie's big band, but his orchestra usually had the feel of a small group anyway. Soloists at this late stage include Eric Dixon and Kenny Hing on tenors, trombonist Booty Wood, altoist Danny Turner and four different trumpeters. The rhythm section is of course instantly recognizable and the music is very much in the Basie tradition.

On the current CD issue you can hear just how superbly Carmirelli plays the most difficult passages, and how glowing a sound stage the engineers captured at the recording site. The fullness of so many Stradivarius string instruments creates a lavish outpouring of tones, an embarrasment of riches which quite overwhelms one.