Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan

Performer: Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan
Artist: Joe Williams; Freddie Green; Joe Newman; Snooky Young; Al Grey; Frank Wess; Thad Jones; Frank Foster; Billy Mitchell
Engineer: Bobby Arnold
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams (vocals); Frank Foster (arranger, tenor saxophone); Thad Jones (arranger, trumpet); Ernie Wilkins (arranger); Frank Wess (alto & tenor saxophones, flute); Marshall Royal (alto saxophone, clarinet); Billy Mitchell (tenor saxophone); Charlie Fowlkes (baritone saxophone, flute); Sonny Cohn, Joe Newman, Snooky Young (trumpet); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (trombone); Kirk Stuart (piano); Freddie Green (guitar); Eddie Jones (bass); Sonny Payne (drums). Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna. Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York, New York in July 1960 and January 1961. Includes liner notes by James Gavin. Personnel: Count Basie (piano); Sarah Vaughan (vocals); Joe Williams (vocals); Freddie Green (guitar); Frank Wess (flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Charlie Fowlkes (flute, baritone saxophone); Marshall Royal (clarinet, alto saxophone); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (tenor saxophone); Joe Newman , Snooky Young, Thad Jones, Sonny Cohn (trumpet); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (trombone); Kirk Stuart (piano); Sonny Payne (drums). Liner Note Author: James Gavin. Recording information: Capitol Studios, NY (07/1960-01/1961). Unknown Contributor Role: Malcolm Addey. Arrangers: Ernie Wilkins; Frank Foster; Thad Jones. While this album is misleadingly titled (Count Basie doesn't appear on the record at all--the piano is actually played by Kirk Stuart), it's a brilliant teaming of the Count Basie Orchestra and the legendary Sarah Vaughan. Basie's legacy was largely due to his band leading skills, and he rarely featured himself on record or in concert; to hear the sound and approach that Basie's sidemen use is to hear the musical conception and style of Basie himself. "Perdido" and "Alone" showcase Sarah Vaughan's incredible range and perfectly controlled vibrato, and "Teach Me Tonight" and "If I Were a Bell" feature Vaughan with Joe Williams, the latter featuring the two singing icons trading lyrics back and forth. Marked by wonderful Thad Jones arrangements, COUNT BASIE AND SARAH VAUGHAN swings hard, and melts the heart.

JazzTimes (10/96, p.117) - "...Although the leader's seat at the piano was filled by Kirk Stuart, Sarah's accompanist at the time, the band still functioned in its most professional mode..."

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