Count Basie

Complete Basie-Hefti Studio Sessions 1951-1962 (FSRCD 777)

Complete Basie-Hefti Studio Sessions 1951-1962 View larger

Complete Basie-Hefti Studio Sessions 1951-1962

Count Basie

Fresh Sound Records

8427328607773

ABS 140208

FSRCD 777

JAZZ

2

Complete Basie-Hefti Studio Sessions 1951-1962

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CD 18,99 €

For years arrangers tried to capture the unique, free-wheeling spirit of the early Count Basie band. Eventually, the old spontaneity of the bristling heads surrendered to the creativity of young arrangers like Neal Hefti, who scored the entire performances included in this set. Hefti, who achieved success in commercial popular music and in jazz, was in jazz terms indelibly associated with the new Count Basie Orchestra of the 50s.

From 1951 to 1956, when Basie recorded mainly for the Clef and Verve labels, Hefti’s subtle compositions eased Basie’s band evolution into a new, rather stylized ensemble sound, with a solid, forceful rhythmic pulse. The Basie-Hefti collaboration reached its peak in the 1957-58 Roulette albums, “The Atomic Mr. Basie” and “Basie Plays Hefti,” with the band a precise yet vigorously expressive unit operating impressively on Hefti’s originals, replete with soloists who could speak with more authority than many of their big band counterparts. Never before had Basie’s band been better recorded, the thrill and full potential of its sound caught on tape. And when Basie returned to Verve in 1962, Hefti again provided him with a new set of typically varied arrangements for “On My Way & Shoutin’ Again,” the last album in a long-lived, memorable and thoroughly craftsmanlike collaboration. 

Personnel on CD 1

Track 1: Al Porcino, Lamar Wright, Clark Terry, Bob Mitchell, trumpets; Mitchell “Booty” Wood, Leon Comegys, Matthew Gee, trombones; Marshall Royal, Rubin Phillips, alto saxes; Wardell Gray, Lucky Thompson, tenor saxes; Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax; Count Basie, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Jimmy Lewis, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded in New York City, April 10, 1951

Tracks 2,3,4: Paul Campbell, Joe Newman, Charlie Shavers, Wendell Culley, trumpets; Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins, trombones; Marshall Royal, clarinet & alto sax; Ernie Wilkins, alto & tenor sax; Floyd “Candy” Johnson, Paul Quinichette, tenor saxes; Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax; Count Basie, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Jimmy Lewis, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded in New York City, January 19, 1952

Tracks 5,6: Omit Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins, Marshall Royal, Ernie Wilkins, Floyd “Candy” Johnson and Charlie Fowlkes on #5. Recorded on January 25, 1952

Track 7: Reunald Jones, Joe Newman, Paul Campbell, Wendell Culley, trumpets; Johnny Mandel, bass trumpet; Henry Coker, Benny Powell, trombones; Marshall Royal, clarinet & alto sax; Ernie Wilkins, alto & tenor sax; Frank Wess, Frank Foster, tenor saxes; Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax; Count Basie, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded in Los Angeles, August 13, 1953

Track 8,9,10: Joe Wilder, trumpet & Henderson Chambers, trombone, replace Campbell & Mandel. Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York City, December 12, 1953

Tracks 11,12: Thad Jones, trumpet, and Bill Hughes, trombone, replace Wilder and Chambers. Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York City, August 16 1954

Tracks 13,14: Bill Hughes, replaces Basie on #13. Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York City, August 17, 1954

Track 15,16: Bill Graham, alto sax, and Sonny Payne, drums, replace Wilkins and Johnson. Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York City, January 5 & June 27, 1956

Tracks 17-24: Snooky Young, Joe Newman, Thad Jones, Wendell Culley, trumpets; Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Al Grey, trombones; Marshall Royal, clarinet & alto sax; Frank Wess, flute, alto & tenor sax; Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Frank Foster, tenor saxes; Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax; Count Basie, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Sonny Payne, drums. Recorded in New York City, October 21 (#17-23) & 22 (#24), 1957

Personnel on CD 2

Tracks 1-3: Snooky Young, Joe Newman, Thad Jones, Wendell Culley, trumpets; Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Al Grey, trombones; Marshall Royal, clarinet & alto sax; Frank Wess, flute, alto & tenor sax; Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Frank Foster, tenor saxes; Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax; Count Basie, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Sonny Payne, drums. Recorded in New York City, October 21 (#1) & 22 (#2,3), 1957

Tracks 4-14: Billy Mitchell, tenor sax replaces Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. Recorded in New York City, April 3 (#4-7), 4 (#8-10) & 14 (#11-14), 1958

Tracks 15-24: Thad Jones, Sonny Cohn, Al Aarons, Fip Ricard, Ernie Royal, trumpets; Henry Coker, Grover Mitchell, Benny Powell, trombones; Marshall Royal, alto sax & flute; Frank Wess, alto & tenor saxes, flute; Eric Dixon, tenor sax & flute; Frank Foster, tenor sax; Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax & flute; Count Basie, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Buddy Catlett, bass; Sonny Payne, drums. Recorded in New York City, Nov. 2,3 & 5, 1962

Tracklisting:


CD 1

01. Little Pony 2:27
02. Sure Thing 3:00
03. Why Not? 3:28
04. Fancy Meetin’ You 3:00
05. Jive at Five 3:07
06. Every Tub 2:48
07. Plymouth Rock 3:41
08. Bubbles 3.58
09. Softly with Feeling 3:05
10. Cherry Point 3:18
11. You for Me 3:09
12. Two for the Blues 2:47
13. Ska-Di-Dle-Dee-Bee-Doo 3:34
14. Two Franks 3:14
15. Dinner with Friends 3:04
16. Lollypop 3:05
17. Flight of the Foo Birds 3:19
18. Double-O 2:43
19. Whirly-Bird 3:47
20. Duet 4:10
21. The Kid from Red Bank 2:38
22. Midnite Blue 4:25
23. Teddy the Toad 3:16
24. Fantail 2:53

All tracks composed and arranged by Neal Hefti, except #5 by Edison-Basie, and #6 by Durham-Basie

CD 2

01. Li’l Darlin’ 4:48
02. Splanky 3:33
03. After Supper 3:23
04. Pensive Miss 3:47
05. Bag a’ Bones 2:42
06. Has Anyone Here Seen Basie? 2:41
07. Scoot 2:28
08. Sloo Foot 3:06
09. Pony Tail 2:58
10. Late Date 3:16
11. A Little Tempo, Please 2:35
12. Count Down 2:45
13. It’s Awf’ly Nice to Be with You 3:32
14. Cute 3:10
15. Rose Bud 3:37
16. I’m Shouting Again 3:47
17. Ducky Bumps 3:32
18. The Long Night 3:41
19. Jump for Johnny 3:15
20. Ain’t That Right 2:48
21. Together Again 2:42
22. Shanghaied 3:30
23. Skippin’ with Skitch 3:59
24. Eee Dee 3:02

All tracks composed and arranged by Neal Hefti