Search - Count Basie :: Farmer's Market Barbecue

One Could Call This 'The Eclectic Basie' Since.......

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 06/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"it covers a lot of territory. The set opens with a composition by Ernie Wilkins, "Way Out Basie", utilizing the full band. The other three full band pieces are written by alunmus Harry "Sweets" Edison ("Beaver Junction), and current band members Freddie Green ("I Don't Know Yet") and Bobby Plater "Ain't That Something"). The Count used a "mid-sized" band for the remaining four cuts which included "St. Louis Blues" featuring a tenor sax solo by Kenny Hing which was very reminiscent of the vaporous style of Ellington saxist Paul Gonsalves. Trumpeter Sonny Cohn contributed the lengthiest cut, "Blues For the Barbecue", with the remaining two tunes dating back to the 1938-39 Harlem days, "Lester Leaps In", Lester Young's famous piece, and the Count's "Jumpin At The Woodside", a hotel which was a popular hangout for musicians back then.



The music is seemingly effortless as the Basie band played excellently both as sections and soloists at that time. The smaller band allowed the Count to stretch it out a bit more. The album was well received at the time as it charted #36 on BillBoard's Jazz albums for 1983.



This is a really good choice for anyone who enjoys good big band swing and Count Basie in particular."