Basie/E=MC2 = Count Basie Orchestra + Neil Hefti Arrangements [Original recording reissued]

Count Basie & His Orchestra (Author) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: ROULETTE Records
• ASIN: B001CMPR5S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,118 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

TRACKLIST: 1. The Kid From Red Bank 2. Duet 3. Splanky 4. Flight Of The Foo Birds 5. Double-O 6. Lil' Darlin' 7. Whirly-Bird 8. Midnite Blue 9. After Supper 10. Fantail 11. Teddy The Toad --------------------------------------------- E=MC2 = COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA + NEIL HEFTI ARRANGEMENTS is what the strap line on the cover says. What we have here is eleven stomping, romping compositions by arranger Neil Hefti, played by the band that Basie put together in the 50s, after a rather lean period leading a small group. Oh, it's not all loud and frantic (not that it's ever frantic) - tracks like Midnite Blue and Lil' Darlin' caress rather than carouse, while never losing that elusive swing thing. Many Basie devotees think of the Count as hailing from Kansas City, where he first made his name as a musician, but in fact he was born (1904) in Red Bank, New Jersey. Thus the title of Track 1, in which Basie demonstrates that his minimalist piano style masks a phenomenal technique. Reverting to his early roots he gouges great double handfuls of stride piano out of the keyboard - the boss is definitely in charge! Solo honours on the rest of the album go mainly to Texan tough tenor, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, who has a sound big enough to tie a horse to - hear After Supper and Flight Of The Foo Birds and marvel at so much horn... no, I have no idea what a Foo Bird is, either, but I love the noise it makes. The alto sax of Frank Wess, in Fantail is, as the sleeve-note observes, appropriately Bird-like and for contrast, the oldest member of the band, Wendell Culley, contributes a wistful, ruminative muted trumpet solo on Lil' Darlin'. On the latter, you actually get to hear Freddie Greene's guitar up front for once, too. Throughout, the Basie rhythm section ticks as though it's running in an oil bath: smooth and masterly, four-to-the-bar dynamite. This orchestra was monumental. If you like to hear a band - this has to be on your CD shelf.