Basie Kansas

This studio session from 1977 features Count Basie in a quintet with vibraphonist Milt Jackson and guitarist Joe Pass. The predictably excellent group performs spirited versions of some of Basie's "hits" (including "Jive at Five" and "One O'Clock Jump"), some blues and a few standards. It is always interesting to hear Basie in a hornless setting like this one where he gets opportunities to stretch out on the piano.

Count Basie's final small-group studio session (one of a countless number for Norman Granz during Basie's last decade), this outing features trumpeter Snooky Young (who was last with the orchestra in the early '60s), tenor great Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and the dependable guitarist Joe Pass (along with rhythm guitarist Freddie Green). The repertoire lives up to the album's title: blues and swing standards all played with joy and spirit.

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.

One of Count Basie's few small-group sessions of the '60s was his best. With trumpeter Thad Jones and tenors Frank Foster and Eric Dixon filling in the septet, Basie is in superlative form on a variety of blues, standards and two originals apiece from Thad Jones and Frank Wess. Small-group swing at its best.

“Sinatra-Basie”; “Count Basie and the Kansas City 7”; “The Atomic Mr. Basie”; “Basie Plays Hefti” plus five previously unissued mono tracks from Newport 1956.
“Sinatra-Basie” continues our new series revealing the hidden qualities of stereo sound and here we again quote from the original liner notes to give you a flavour of what to expect within the grooves. “I’ve waited twenty years for this moment” said Frank Sinatra as the recording session for this historic meeting of two genuine musical giants of the 20th Century began on the 2nd October 1962. A few more quotes… With arrangements by Neal Hefti… ”it is the balance of power (between Sinatra and Basie) “that is so successful”…

In the history of jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold out concerts all over the world. The work, with members personally chosen by him, for over 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and the excellence of jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra, today directed by Scotty Barnhart, has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world.

Unlike Duke Ellington's sideman, who often recorded under their own names in the 30s and early 40s, the stars of the Count Basie orchestra had few similar opportunities. However, many of Basie’s best musicians did grace small-group sessions led by Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday and Lionel Hampton, all of which are available on Classics. The present CD collates four informal studio encounters featuring the Basie alumni, a series of sessions never previously issued together on one CD.

This typically enjoyable Basie all-star jam is particularly noteworhty because it includes the great (but underrated) tenor of Budd Johnson along with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and trumpeters Clark Terry and Harry "Sweets" Edison. The music is quite delightful, topped by a fine ballad medley.