The Best Of Early Basie

Performer: Count Basie
Artist: Lester Young; Buck Clayton; Jimmy Rushing; Harry "Sweets" Edison
Producer: Orrin Keepnews (Reissue)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Count Basie (leader, piano); Fletcher Henderson, Eddie Durham, Buster Williams (arranger); Jimmy Rushing (vocals); Jack Washington (alto & baritone saxophones); Earle Warren, Caughey Roberts (alto saxophone); Lester Young, Herschel Walker (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Leon "Chu" Berry (tenor saxophone); Buck Clayton, Joe Keyes, Carl Smith, Ed Lewis, Bobby Moore, Karl George, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Shad Collins (trumpet); George Hunt, Dan Minor, Dickey Wells, Benny Morton (trombone); Claude Williams, Freddie Green (guitar); Walter Page (bass); Jo Jones (drums). Recorded between 1936 and 1939. Includes liner notes by Loren Schoenberg. Personnel: Count Basie (piano); Jimmy Rushing (vocals); Claude "Fiddler" Williams (guitar); Eddie Durham (electric guitar, trombone); Herschel Evans, Lester Young (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jack Washington (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Earle Warren, Caughey Roberts (alto saxophone); Chu Berry (tenor saxophone); Joe Keyes, Ed Lewis, Bob Moore , Harry "Sweets" Edison, Karl George, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton (trumpet); Dicky Wells, Benny Morton, Dan Minor (trombone); Jo Jones (drums). Liner Note Authors: Loren Schoenberg; Orrin Keepnews. Recording information: New York, NY (01/21/1937-02/04/1939). Arrangers: Eddie Durham; Fletcher Henderson; Andy Gibson ; Buck Clayton; Buster Smith . Best of Count Basie Live contains a good portion of the live material that the Count Basie Orchestra recorded for Decca Records between 1936 and 1939. At the time, Basie's Orchestra contained such legendary players as Lester Young, Harry "Sweets" Edison, and Buck Clayton. About a third of the live sides the Orchestra recorded for Decca is included on the disc, and although this compilation isn't complete, it offers a good introduction for novice listeners. ~ Thom Owens

Simply put, Count Basie led the most swinging of the classic big bands. His youthful education in playing stride piano in New York was meshed with a deep immersion in the hard-swinging Kansas City jazz scene of the early 1930s. As Basie moved from sideman to bandleader, his tight-knit ensemble eventually came to rival Duke Ellington's group. The Basie orchestra's perfectly interlocking rhythm section provided a springboard for a succession of jazz giants--most notably tenor man Lester Young--to launch their solo excursions. Basie's big-band vision was so strong that his group continued for decades after his passing.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25