Customer Reviews

Straight Ahead

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When this album was recorded, Basie had just finished about seven years of collaborations with singers, vocal groups, and rock stars, all with varying degrees of success. His orchestra even recorded two albums of Beatle tunes. However, this album put Basie right smack dab in the middle of where he belonged, in the world of straight ahead swing (as the title so aptly discribes). All soloists are high level and very much in the style and tradition. The drumming of Harold Jones is impeccable, and sparkling. This album has become a classic, for all of the before mentioned reasons. It is stongly recommended for all Basie fans and especially jazz ensemble directors around the world. We should all be indebted to Grover Mitchell, the lead trombone player in the band, for introducing Basie to Sammy Nestico, the composer and arranger for the date and for many others to follow. Their collaborations become the most important and significant since Basie worked with Neal Hefti from the mid-fifties to early sixties. Nestico's compositions are very substantive and his arrangements have never been better. Check out how he developes the arrangement of "It's Oh So Nice" from a four note melody. GREAT, GREAT ALBUM!! FIVE STARS!!!!!

-Clarence Acox, Seattle WA.-

Finally this album has been released on CD. Harold Jones is the subtle star. Magic Flea is a tour de force, with the drummer driving hard, but staying out of the way. Harold Jones was arguably Basie's best drummer (he is currently touring with Natalie Cole and playing better than ever). All of the soloists on this CD were legends of the Basie bands and are caught here playing at career bests. The ensemble playing is so perfect it can only be marvled. This CD proves that a tune doesn't have to be fast to swing so hard it pulls you out of the chair. This CD covers all of the tempos from slow to fast and lot's of that favorite Basie tempo of 'right in the middle'. This CD features the very prolific Sammy Nesitco's earlier writing for the Basie band and the first of many albums featuring only Sammy's arrangements. It remains some of his best. This is an absolute "gotta have" CD of the Basie library.

This is probably Basie's best band and Nestico the best writer/arranger he ever had. Harold Jones does some fine drumming along with some great musicians like Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Charles Fowlkes, and Freddie Green just to name a few. The Count even playes the organ on "That Warm Feeling". What you hear on this cd is just plain good music played by the best.....Count Basie. Well worth owning!

Finally this album has been released on CD. Harold Jones is the subtle star. Magic Flea is a tour de force, with the drummer driving hard, but staying out of the way. Harold Jones was arguably Basie's best drummer (he is currently touring with Natalie Cole and playing better than ever). All of the soloists on this CD were legends of the Basie bands and are caught here playing at career bests. The ensemble playing is so perfect it can only be marvled. This CD proves that a tune doesn't have to be fast to swing so hard it pulls you out of the chair. This CD covers all of the tempos from slow to fast and lot's of that favorite Basie tempo of 'right in the middle'. This CD features the very prolific Sammy Nesitco's earlier writing for the Basie band and the first of many albums featuring only Sammy's arrangements. It remains some of his best. This is an absolute "gotta have" CD of the Basie library.

This CD features the Basie Band and Sammy Nestico at their very best. Nestico was arguably Basie's greatest writer, and these are probably his greatest charts. This should be the first Basie CD in anyone's collection!

One of the best recordings the Count Basie Big Band ever did. With the best drummer (second to Sonny Payne) Harold Jones. He really pushes the band. He is the ultimate big band drummer. The soloists are at their best,and Basie himself seem to really enjoy the charts. The charts are written and arranged by Sammy Nestico who also conducts the band on this recording.

I write this review as a personal experience. I was in an Air Force band in 1969, when Count Basie came to play the Officer's Club. Several of us bandsman did everything possible to get in to hear the band. It was right after they recorded this album. The man from Norway was right on when he said Harold Jones is THE big band drummer. A friend and I went up to talk to Charlie Fowlkes during a break to ask him about his album. He said they were running out of time and they did Magic Flea on one take. We couldn't believe it when Charlie said, "It just flowed out of us." Hay Burner is my favorite, but the charts are all terrific.

This easily ranks as one of the top three or four Basie albums of all time, both for its overall quality and its lasting and widespread influence. Sammy Nestico's compelling arrangements on all nine tracks, the ensemble's brilliant execution, and the great solos will have you listening to this over and over. That has certainly been the case for a couple of generations of young players since the album was recorded in 1968. And not just listening - the charts immediately became available and found their way into the libraries of countless high school, college, and professional bands, becoming classics in the process.
From the feel-good swing of "Basie - Straight Ahead" and "Fun Time" to the unhurried beauty of "Lonely Street" and "That Warm Feeling" to the blazing fast "Magic Flea," the tunes offer a full range of Basie expression. The package has the original cover art and liner notes. If you don't have this one in your collection, you don't have Basie.

If you like big bands Basie is one of the best.
This CD is an excellent example.

An outstanding collection of some of Count Basie's best musicians with an earth shattering display of pure talent. I highly recommend this CD.