An epic 100 CD chronological documentation of the history of jazz music from 1898 to 1959, housed in four boxed sets. Each box contains 25 slipcase CDs, a booklet (up to 186 pages) and an index. The booklets contain extensive notes (Eng/Fr) with recording dates and line-ups. 31 hours of music in each box, totalling 1677 tracks Each track has been restored and mastered from original sources.
First off, this album is inaccurately titled. Though the cover photo shows Count Basie with two lavishly dressed Brits, the recording was made in its entirety from a 1956 concert in Gothenburg, Sweden. As far as the music, it represents the Basie band in a classic time period, playing many well-known, long-lasting, and beloved tunes that everybody will recognize. It's also a band loaded with legendary Basie sidemen like Freddie Green, Sonny Payne, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Joe Newman, Marshall Royal, Charlie Fowlkes, and on three tracks, Joe Williams.
In early 1961, the 16-member Count Basie band lost a few key soloists (Billy Mitchell, Joe Newman, and Al Grey), but that did not slow them down. By June of that year they quite adequately reloaded. In fact, it could be said they were re-energized, and this live set at Birdland, the self-proclaimed "Jazz Corner of the World," provides proof of how great they continued to be. This CD reissue contains the original nine tracks, plus an additional eight more. There are repeats, but included are some restored piano intros that were previously edited out, and a correction on the misidentified jam "Discommotion."
A collection of hits from the times of World War II 1939-1945. Includes legendary performers - Glenn Miller, Oscar Peterson, Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters, Vera Lynn, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Coleman Hawkins, George Formby, Nat King Cole, Gracie Fields …
Norman Granz recorded Count Basie in many different settings during his decade with Granz's Pablo label. This jam session set was a little unusual in that, along with the tenor of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, guitarist Joe Pass and trombonist J.J. Johnson, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard is in the cast along with Basie; pity he never recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra. This spirited session is a strong consolation prize, with plenty of fine solos taking over familiar chord changes.
This 1957 performance, which united Count Basie's contemporary band with its greatest alumni, was a truly festive event that reached back to the 1930s for some of the repertoire and some of the guests. The contrasting tenors of Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet, drummer Jo Jones, trumpeter Roy Eldridge, and the great Kansas City blues shouter Jimmy Rushing are all featured, as is the band's regular vocalist, Joe Williams. ~ Amazon