Basie Is Back

by Count Basie

Overview

Critics have often had reservations with any ghost band touring long after the death of the leader, along with the retirement or death of the musicians that helped make the band famous. But the Count Basie Orchestra has remained active since their leader's death in 1984 for one good reason: the musicians hired to take the place of previous players have been true to the band book while still offering swinging solos. Unlike the Duke Ellington Orchestra, which was handicapped by the death of the leader (who also served as an arranger and composer who wrote specifically for the strengths of individuals who played with him), Basie's band relied more on an easygoing swing and less of a personalized sound that could be comprised severely due to someone's departure. That said, the new edition of the band, led by trombonist Bill Hughes utilizes both existing band charts and updated treatments of favorites. As a result, this concert recording proves that Basie's music is not a museum piece to be played with exactness, but with ears open to the future. Most of the repertoire, aside from obvious requests like "One O'Clock Jump" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside," come from the band's repertoire of the '50s and '60s, with a few twists. The lush ballad "We're in Love Again," a feature for baritone saxophonist John Williams, was a rare composition by Ellington's star baritone saxophonist Harry Carney. Sadly, the liner notes fail to identify the soloists, though each of the performances is enjoyable. One Basie veteran who returned to the fold for this concert is drummer Butch Miles, who appeared on a number of Basie's recordings in the second half of the '70s. Of all the so-called "ghost" or "tribute" bands active in the 21st century, the Count Basie Orchestra remains on top by a wide margin, with the proof evident on this swinging live CD.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/27/2007
Label:	Concord Records
UPC:	0888072493520
catalogNumber:	4935

Tracks

1. Corner Pocket
2. Discommotion
3. Blues in Hoss' Flat
4. Segue in "C"
5. Basie Power
6. We're in Love Again
7. In a Mellow Tone
8. Body and Soul
9. Lover Come Back to Me
10. Whirly-Bird
11. Jumpin' at the Woodside
12. One O'Clock Jump
13. April in Paris

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Count Basie   Primary Artist
Clarence Banks   Trombone
Scotty Barnhart   Trumpet
Barry Cooper   Trombone
Bill Hughes   Trombone,Leader
Melba Joyce   Vocals
Doug Lawrence   Tenor Saxophone
James Leary   Bass
Marshall McDonald   Alto Saxophone
Butch Miles   Drums
John Williams   Baritone Saxophone
Doug Miller   Tenor Saxophone
Alvin Walker   Trombone
Will Matthews   Guitar
Michael Williams   Trumpet
Shawn C. Edmonds   Trumpet
Endré Rice   Trumpet
Tony Suggs   Piano
Grant Langford   Alto Saxophone
Alvin Walker   Trombone

Technical Credits

Sigmund Romberg   Composer
Count Basie   Composer
Freddie Green   Composer
Neal Hefti   Composer
Vernon Duke   Composer
Harry Carney   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer
Ernie Wilkins   Composer
Frank Foster   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein   Composer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Composer
Edward Heyman   Composer
Bill Hughes   Director
Frank Wess   Composer
Aaron A. Woodward   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Kyoko Aikawa   Producer
Mikio Aoki   Executive Producer
Yasohachi "88" Itoh   Audio Production
Keiji Uyeda   Art Direction
Yoshiro Suzuki   Engineer,Remixing
Robert Sour   Composer