Customer Reviews

At Newport (Reis) (Dlx)

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

 

 

This is a great wild and swinging performance, both the "reunion" sides and the straight band stuff.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s Lester Young toured and performed with the Basie New Testament band quite often. In fact, at times he would simply show up for a rehearsal or stage performance unannounced and just blow. Basie always kept the door open for him and his chair in the section was his whenever he showed up whatever other combos Prez had.

However, even though THE PRESIDENT was in rough shape that weekend (he wasn't dying that happened 3 years later), there are no later day recordings of Prez with the band that capture the swing that the reunion sides do here.

I think it had to do with having Joe Jones and Mr. Rushing present. A lot of his Basie band mates from the 1930s used to say that the big diffeence in Lester Young's 1950s performances was that he really needed a swing rhythm section, despite the excellence of Roy Haynes and other bop influenced young drummers Prez employed in his own combos. Papa Jo, Jo Jones the great drummer of the Basie band, is reunited with Freddie Green and Count Basie, with only Walter Page the original bassist in the 1930s All American Rhythm section being missing.

One of the great things here is hearing Jimmie Rushing--who was a bit more of a stranger to Basie in these years than Prez--swinging the band. The New Testament band reacts to his singing by swinging back at him like they would any other master soloist. You can also pick up on some of the other cuts where Jimmie isn't singing, where his hand clapping and shouting is adding to the fury of the bands swing. If you are lucky enough to be familiar with air checks of the 1930s and early 1940s live performances by Basie, you can hear Jimmie doing the same stuff then. By the way, despite his size, Rushing was renowned as a dancer. One imagines that if Jimmy just wiggled his nose to the music it would have swung a whole lot.

Even if you are so culturally deprived as not to be a Jimmie Rushing fan, you will be after you hear his sides on this CD. Despite a less than adequate microphone or recording level when he sings, you can hear him and the band thundering back and forth with each other swinging.

Illinois Jacquet and Roy Eldrige also shine on this record, on the killer rendition of One O'clock Jump. They were both at the height of their powers here and really burnt it up. Both of them are the real stars of the One O'clock Jump.

Don't forget the Count Basie Orchestra here. I have three other recordings of Bleep Blop Blues (the first with the nonette and two studio recordings). The live jumping version on this CD is the best one I have ever heard. As much as I love the other cuts on the CD, I find myself putting that on repeat and repeat and repeat. Joe Williams does show you why he is the righteous successor to Mr. Rushing, (although Joe Williams always saw himself as more of a disciple of Joe Turner than of Jimmie Rushing). I also love the interaction between the New Testament Band and some of the swing veterans as their riffs rise behind the veterans, especially on One O'clock Jump. Any idea that Basie's new band was not the leading swing organization of its time is quickly dispelled by what the band does here.

And John Hammond LOL: Oh well, at least his introductions aren't faked like he did on the Vanguard recordings of the Spirituals to Swing concerts. His introduction of the Basie New Testament band is interesting in giving you a picture of how many members of the New Testament band came out of the old swing bands even preswing organizations like Noble Sissle's outfit. His patronizing tone really takes you back to what Jazz musicians and African American artists in general had to put up from supposedly liberal (NAACP board member was Hammond) whites just to perform.

This is a one in a million special CD. This was the first CD I ever bought. It belongs in every home!

So, where is the complete version of this concert? In verve's vault, waiting another 5- 10 years, so they can sell it to you again. They missed a big chance od finnaly releasing this historic concert the way it should be, in a 2 cd edition, 24 bit remastered. Check out the Duke ay Newport release and compare it with this. The music itself is 4 stars at least, Lester was not in his prime anymore, and you can hear it, but Joe Williams is just amazing.

let me start out by saying , i love count basie live.....but not on this cd....the sound sucks and it just did'nt move me like Breakfast and BBQ....I LISTEN IT ONCE ,TOOK IT OUT OF MY CAR CD PLAYER, AND CHALKED IT UP TO, SOMETIMES OTHER REVIEWS ARE VERY RIGHT.....

You could call it an astonishingly good and exciting performance - but nothing Basie and his band does should astonish, they are beyond category. And hearing the links between the first Basie band and the Atomic band of the late 50's is a gas. A pleasure to hear, from the front ranks of American artists.

Brilliant!
This is swing music at its best, the power and energy of classic Basie band recreated in the age of stereo technology. For, Lester Young (one of two swing-era candidates for the best tenorist ever), Jimmy Rushing (perhaps the best blues singer in jazz) and Jo Jones (probably the best swing-drummer) return to the flock. What a performance - a festival whithin Newport festival!

These veterans give the orchestra (powerful on its own) a new impetus - more than anything else in hard, merciless drive. Solos and obligattos by Young are beautiful, combining brutal blues "primitivism" with proto-modern harmony and tone in Young's inimitable way, Rushing is in his musical prime, while "Papa Jo" does what he does best - Basie's big band remains the most inspiring musical environment for him.
Naturally, the part of the CD with singer Joe Williams (sans Rushing, Young and Jones) although excellent, is not on the level of the recordings with these older giants, but than again, how could it be? It is a pitty that this sort of reunion was not more common.
In addition to great colaboration in the first part of the concert, another giant of swing, Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge (bop-buffs know him as the musical daddy of Dizzy Gillespie), climbs to the stage to join Young, Jones and Illinois Jacquet for powerful big-band finale. The piano work of Bill Basie, the arragements and ensemble work are top class throughout, so I'm really wondering why You haven't purchased it yet?
Some 15 years ago I first heard "Evenin'" (with Rushing's macho but lyrical rendition of the verse) and "Sent for you yesterday" (which rocked my old phonograph) on two Verve compilations and ever sice that moment I was wondering what the entire album sounds like. It turned out to be one of my favorite CDs, and, although I'm not an expert, probably one of the finest moments in the history of swing style. Young passed away not long after this reunion (although he lived long enough to hear the record) and, sadly, no concert like this one will ever take place again.

Lester Young with Oscar Peterson Trio Pres and Teddy First Time: The Count Meets the Duke Kansas City 5The Bosses Brubeck & Rushing Five Feet of Soul Every Day I Have the Blues Goin' to Chicago: The Best of Jimmy Rushing with Count Basie and His Orchestra Roy and Diz Little Jazz: Trumpet Giant Happy Time Loose Walk

The Newport festival hosted some fine releases, the standouts included this one, Duke Ellington's 2 seperate outings, Joe Williams, Monk,all captured on wonderfull rereleases. Yet this one comes close if not the best from Basie and his band playing with greatness from their past and then present with such luminaries as Jimmy Rushing,Joe Williams,Lester Young,Roy Eldridge, wonderful remastered sound..total energy lovely packaged..get it and you won't be sorry especially if you are exploring Basie and Jazz for the first time.