Search - Count Basie :: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Count Basie

A perfect intro to Basie's works

Maria-Rosa de Hacia | 01/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"About the only material not covered here are the sessions Basie did with Frank Sinatra in the 60's (Quincy Jones' arrangements), but if you want to know what this band was about, this is a wonderful place to start. The 30's, 40's and 50's are all ably represented here, and even though chestnuts such as "Jumpin at the Woodside" and the haunting "Dark Rapture" sound great, we can only wistfully wonder what today's recording techniques would do for them...You get a taste of the great vocalists Jimmy Rushing ("Goin' to Chicago") and Joe Williams ("Every Day I Have the Blues"), plus the sidemen such as Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Lester Young, Buck Clayton and Herschel Evans, and drummers Jo Jones and (later on) Sonny Payne.Although every track here is worthwhile, especially the slower numbers such as "Blue and Sentimental" and "Softly, with Feeling", my personal favorites are "April in Paris" and the majestic "Corner Pocket", which slowly builds into an irresistible crescendo punctuated by Payne's powerful percussion. For someone who wants to discover what inventive "big band swing" was all about, this is the place to start. As the man himself once said, "a band can really swing when it swings easy." Put this disc in and you'll see what he meant."

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Count Basie

Maria-Rosa de Hacia | 12/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a terrific CD not just because I like it, but because it succeeds so well at what it has set out to do: provide an enjoyable and educational introduction to Count Basie in all his piano playing genius. As a swing dancer and DJ, I love Count Basie in all of his many flavors: earlier hard hitting and hard swinging, or the later and sweeter, more sophisticated Basie. In this CD, you get both and that is not a bad thing! As with almost everything Ken Burns touches, there is magic in listening to his Basie Collection. As one listens to this chronological journey of the evolution of one of Jazz's greatest greats, one can hear the development of 'swing' as well as the techniques of arrangement and playing that Basie was so famous for. Basie is captured in most all of his flavors and Burns' choices have been well made. This is important in and of itself because the task of boiling Count Basie down to only one CD is nearly impossible. At the same time, that is what makes this CD so special and accessable: it is a great representation of Basie's music and his aura of elegance and style. While we might miss Jimmy Rushing and especially Ella Fitzgerald, the essence of the "Basie sound" is well presented. Burn's retrospective would make a great gift and I would certainly buy this CD as a way to introduce a friend to Basie and let him or her decide what they like and where they'd go for more. However, one should note that the selections are "classic" versions of each song, so serious fans of Count Basie would have most of these songs already."

"Basie was the beginning & main-key to jazz big band"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 02/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"William "The Count" Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey on August 21, 1904, was sufficiently modest about his importance as a keyboard player...he once described himself as a "non-pianist". But far from it, as a young man became an aquaintance with Fats Waller, led to informal lessons and his love for the piano grew and laid-back-style was his trademark. Stranded on the road in Kansas City, left high and dry told his musicians "Beware, The Count is Here" on printed business cards. Joined the Bennie Moten band, wrote arrangements for him...when Bennie passed away suddenly in 1935, Basie found himself at Kansas City's Reno Club as the co-leader. The following year, record producer and general man-behind-the-scenes John Hammond heard the group...as they began touring, first nationally and later internationally...and the rest is history.Basie at the piano, had top personnel in his band - Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis, Bobby Moore (trumpet)...George Hunt, Dan Minor (trombone), Earl Warren (alto sax), Herschel Evans (tenor sax/clarinet), Lester Young (tenor sax), Jack Washington (baritone sax/alto sax), Freddie Green (guitar), Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums) and Joe Williams (vocal) with his trademark tune "EVERY DAY I HAVE THE BLUES". Basie's group with its infectious beat which was constant, top arrangers flocked to be on this band-wagon's swingin' success.Of course the stand outs - "ONE O'CLOCK JUMP" (1937) and "JUMPIN' AT THE WOODSIDE" (1938), composed by William Basie..."CORNER POCKET" (1955), "APRIL IN PARIS" (1955), "SHINY STOCKINGS" (1956) originally released on "April In Paris" (Verve 314 521 402 2), always with the "hands-off" and seemingly laid-back personality, with shades of "swingin' the blues".And now with have the highlights - "LI'L DARLIN'" written for Basie by Neil Hefti, became a standard and was an instant hit, with its infectuous rhythm and repeating theme.Hats off to Ken Burns and the gang at Verve Records, this collection epitomizes the best of the big-band style, with "The Count" and his minimal piano work - as the band always came together as a whole...that was the reputation and style of the one-and-only - COUNT BASIE! Total Time: 71:29 on 19 Tracks...Verve Records 314 549 090 2...(2000)"