Count Basie

Featuring: Joe Newman, Joe Wilder, Thad Jones, Johnny Mandel (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal, Ernie Wilkins, Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Charlie Fowlkes (saxes), Count Basie (p, org), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Gus Johnson (d)

When this particular edition of Basie’s band began rolling in 1953, some observers thought its soloists were not up to the quality of past Basie units. Within a few months, this opinion was shown to be well wide of the mark. Almost single-handedly, Count Basie had given the band business a jolt with this group and, Basie’s own immeasurable contributions aside, it was the instrumentalists themselves who made it a band of distinction.

Joe Newman became one of the most consistent trumpeters in jazz; trombonists Benny Powell and Henry Coker had few equals in modern jazz; meanwhile, vigorous tenors Frank Wess and Frank Foster were on their way to a revered place in the Basie jazz pantheon. And the rhythm section, with Freddie Green, Eddie Jones, Gus Johnson, and the Count, was unique in the big band field.

“Blazing power and a zest for blowing” was how one critic described Basie’s band of distinction. In 1955 it was voted the world’s top jazz band in Down Beat’s annual reader’s poll. For those who will be hearing this Basie band for the first time—we envy you!

Tracklisting:

CD 1
01. Plymouth Rock
02. Blues Go Away!
03. Peace Pipe
04. Straight Life
05. Bubbles
06. Softly with Feeling
07. Cherry Point
08. Basie Goes Wess
09. Right On
10. The Blues Done Come Back
11. Slow but Sure
12. You for Me
13. She’s Just My Size
14. Soft Drink
15. Two for the Blues
16. Blues Backstage
17. I Feel Like a Newman
18. Down for the Count

CD 2
01. Stereophonic
02. Sixteen Men Swinging
03. Ska-Di-Dle-Dee-Bee-Doo
04. Perdido
05. Mambo Mist
06. Eventide
07. Two Franks
08. Ain’t Misbehavin’
09. Rails
10. Blee Blop Blues
11. Basie Talks
12. Two Franks
13. It Could Happen to You
14. Ska-Di-Dle-Dee-Bee-Doo
15. Slow but Sure
16. Bubbles
17. Don’t Blame Me
18. You for Me
19. Straight Life
20. Two for the Blues
21. Basie Goes Wess

Total time: 146:07 min.


Sources - CD 1:
Tracks #1-10 issued on "Dance Session" (Clef MG C-626).
Tracks #1,5,7,9-13,14,15 & 17 also issued on "King Of Swing" (Clef MG C-724).
Tracks #11-15 & 17 issued as "Dance Session #2" (Clef MG C-647).
Tracks #16 & 18 from "Basie" (Clef MG C-666), later issued as "The Band of Distinction" (Verve MG V-8103).

Sources - CD 2:
Tracks #1,2 & 5 from "Dance Sessions #2".
Tracks #3,4,6-9 issued on "Basie" and "The Band of Distinction".
Tracks #10-21 are radio broadcasts.


Personnel on CD 1:

Tracks #1-2: Reunald Jones, Paul Campbell, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman (tp), Johnny Mandel (b-tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Frank Wess, Frank Foster (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Gus Johnson (d). Arrangements by Neal Hefti (#1) and Ernie Wilkins (#2).

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, California, on August 13, 1953.


Tracks #3-10: Reunald Jones, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman, Joe Wilder (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Frank Wess, Frank Foster (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p, org on #6), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Gus Johnson (d). Arrangements by Ernie Wilkins (#3,10),
Johnny Mandel (#4), Neal Hefti (#5-7), Frank Wess (#8) and Freddie Green (#9).

Recorded at Fine Sound, New York City, on December 12, 1953.


Tracks #11-18: Reunald Jones, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman, Thad Jones (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Bill Hughes (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Frank Wess (fl, ts), Frank Foster (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Gus Johnson (d). Arrangements by Manny Albam (#11,14,17), Neal Hefti (#12,15), Ernie Wilkins (#13) and Frank Foster (#16,18).

Recorded at Fine Sound, New York City, on August 16, 1954.

Personnel on CD 2:

Tracks #1-9: Reunald Jones, Thad Jones, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman (tp), Bill Hughes (tb, p on #3), Henry Coker, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Frank Wess (fl, ts), Frank Foster (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p, out on #3), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Gus Johnson (d). Arrangements by Ernie Wilkins (#1,2,4,11 & 13), Neal Hefti (#3,7,12,14,16,18,20), Frank Foster (#6,8), Buster Harding (#9), A.K. Salim (#10), Manny Albam (#15), Johnny Mandel (#19), Frank Wess (#17,21), unknown (#5).

Recorded at Fine Sound, New York City, on August 17, 1954.


Tracks #10-21: same personnel, with Bixie Crawford (vcl on #13).

Recorded live at "The Savoy Ballroom," Cleveland, Ohio, July 1954.