Customer Reviews

The Basie Big Band (20 Bit Mastering)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album was released in the mid-late 1970's and represents the the final chapter in Basie recordings. What a chapter! The whole thing just flat out cooks a groove. I was in high school back then and we used to play the record over and over just listening to the trumpets on "The Heat is On." Most of the tracks are contemporary for their time and most are Sammy Nestico numbers. If you only know Basie from his earlier recordings I urge you to buy this CD. The band is solid as usual, and the sound quality is excellent. What will surprise you is how totally crazy and wild Basie at this late stage! Some of these songs are just over the top and he's right there every step. He's great. Butch Miles does the drumming and is superb. Anyway, buy this CD and enjoy!

Basie Big band is a textbook example of Sammy Nestico charts. Easy swinging free flowing music is the specialty here. There is great soloing on this album by Al Grey and many others. All in all it is a great collection of Nestico tunes.

although most of these are lessor known (I'm guessing) to the average fan.
Nonetheless, after listening to it several times before writing this, I have to upgrade it to a "5" from a "4" because of the really cool colorations (which still sound good after all these years)of the instrument blendings on "Freckle Face" and "Orange Sherbet", four trombones,bari and flute on the former and the same with the addition of trumpet on the latter. This was recorded in 1975 when the Basie orchestra started a big comeback by strengthening the band with the addition of drummer Butch Miles, in the school of Buddy Rich, the additions of Frank Szabo on trumpet, Danny turner, alto sax and the return of Charlie Fowlkes on bari. This was also the time the relationship between Basie and Nestico began.

To me the Basie band recordings have always seemed effortless......because it was always so professional that I, at least, sort of took the music for granted. Since I have really listened to the band more carefully the last ten years it is now apparent to me what a thing of beauty and craftsmanship it really was. Listen to the eloquent solo of Bobby Plater on alto on "Soft As Velvet" if there are any doubts. "Midnight Freight" is at such a slow tempo that as the liner notes state, only Basie could make this swing. Plater and one of my favorite trombonists, Al Grey, are the soloists on this one.....also dig the three unison flute on the entry. The driving tenor of Jimmy Forrest, of "Night Train" fame, is also featured on "Front Burner" and "The Wind Machine".

I picked up my original LP album in Palo Alto, CA in 1989 and since it has a few scratches I noted while transcribing it to cd, I decided tonight to buy the newer cd while I could still afford it.

Anybody who enjoys the music of Basie and/or Sammy Nestico will want this one

This album was released my senior year in high school. Every song is a winner and Basie and his band,some of the cats were quite old, swung with that big, fat, Basie sound. I went to a Basie concert, sat in the front row and dug this band live as it played every number from this album. The crowd went wild, the band was so cool and the Nestico tunes swung sooooooo well.

I generally agree with othe reviewer but there is more here than meets the eye. First, the Basie Band recorded better in a live audience situation----more drive, more excitement, more fun! But not here. Perhaps the audience loss is made up by wonderful technical recording. There was also some interplay going on which we can't see. Second, the Boss's piano has a different sound-----a litte harpsichord feel which is not disturbing but interesting. Third, the intonation, attacks, phrasing, timing and each hearing the total is absolutely unmatched in Big Band. It is Mozartean in color, discipline and excitement. Finally, Butch Miles. Buddy Rich was the best drummer ever. Butch Miles is the best big band drummer ever. Rich was the band. Butch is of the band. His tasteful textures, never ending variety of accents and faultless timing pulls the whole thing together. The beauty of this recording is that one can hear him clearly. Butch has said that all he did was watch Basie and listen to Freddie Green. The truth is that all three listened to each other. This is the peak of Big Band led by Basie.

Basie's music and arrangements never go out of style. This one is no exception. Great big band arrangements executed with style and perfection.
I love Basie's very basic piano style along with explosive horns and a driving rhythm section. Outstanding!! Not unlike other Basie albums, but you won't be disappointed.

The previous reviewer is correct, this is a rather short CD, but it is an authentic reissue of a '70s LP, and they couldn't cram 75 minutes of music on a vinyl disc back then.

The band, soloists, arranger (Sammy Nestico) and recording engineers were spot-on for this one! Classic late Basie! BUY IT!!

three reasons:
1. superior recording engineering. the technology applied to remaster/digitize the music is flawless. as if this music was recorded in 2011 instead of 36 yrs ago. every instrumentation from the musicians came across as clear and precise. as such, you hear the performance of the band to the highest degree of precision, you also get to hear individual performance, from the air blown through the reeds to the soft touch of the cymbals. i wish more remastering like this applied to classical big band sound. how about remaster Basie's April in Paris like this?

2. beautiful arrangement. everyone knows Count Basie Big Band's superior quality. this one shows the genius of the arranger. from fast chops to individual performance in quartet setting, every piece on this CD is gem... too bad we only get 9 songs... wished there were more.

3. liner note from Len Feather. many years ago, Down Beat gave a life time achievement award to Len Feather for his work as jazz critic and educator. this CD included the original liner note from Feather which elevates our understanding and appreciation of the music.

must buy for every jazz fan. my only complaint: wished there were more songs.

This CD contains very high quality recordings of some excellent, classic Basie songs. I highly recommend it, though I do wish it contained more tracks.

The CD really captures the fantastic sound of the Basie Band. Overall, it's an excellent CD.