In 1951 Count Basie began to build a new band. Though he had some veterans, most of the musicians were young and relatively unknown. Quietly but surely Basie molded the 16 men, changing personnel when he had to, until he had built a band of proper Basie stature, one which could hold its ground when compared with the remarkable outfit of 1936.
The rhythm section, of course, was the focal point of the band if only because it is responsible for most of the real excitement. Not counting out the Count, and the powerful rhythmic guitar of Freddie Green, the individual star here was drummer Gus Johnson, whose driving beat was exceptionally clean. The brass was almost as good as the rhythm, with such young talents as trumpeter Joe Newman and trombonists Benny Powell and Henry Coker. Marshall Royal, a talented veteran, led the excellent sax section, featuring tenorists Paul Quinichette, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and even the great Lester Young is heard as a guest in the live performances.
Above all, this band swings, swings from the rhythm section out, sets every figure with a moving beat and never lets a soloist down. That's a lot to say of any band, but this is a lot of band.
Tracklist
Total time: 145:26 min.
CD 1
01. The New Basie (Basie-Pierce) 3:26
02. Sure Thing (Hefti) 3:03
03. Why Not (Hefti) 3:31
04. Fawncy Meeting You (Hefti) 3:03
05. Jive at Five (Basie-Edison) 3:09
06. No Name (Basie) 3:08
07. Redhead (oliver) 2:51
08. Every Tub (Basie-Durham) 2:55
09. Jack & Jill (Redman) 2:55
10. Bread (Wilkins) 2:52
11. Theres a Small Hotel (Rodgers-Hart) 3:33
12. Hob Nail Boogie (Basie) 2:35
13. Basie Talks (Basie) 3:39
14. Paradise Squat (Basie-Harding) 4:05
15. Paradise Squat (Basie-Harding) 3:39 [Short version]
16. UFO (Unknown) 3:04
17. Like a Ship at Sea (Welcher) 2:42
18. Bunny (Basie-Harding)) 3:37
19. Tippin on the Q.T. (Clayton) 3:02
20. Blee Blop Blues (Basie) 3:03
21. The New Basie Blues (Basie-Pierce) 3:30
22. No Name (Basie) 3:08
CD 2
01. Cash Box (Basie-Gibson-McRae) 3:21
02. Bootsie (Basie) 3:20
03. Tom Whaley (Basie-Clayton) 2:54
04. Be My Guest (Wilkins) 3:01
05. Youre Not the Kind (Hudson-Mills) 3:17
06. Let Me Dream (Edwards-Brown-Norman) 2:39
07. Sent for You Yesterday and Here You Come Today (Basie-Durham-Rushing) 3:10
08. Goin to Chicago (Rushing-Basie) 3:20
Live at Birdland
09. Introduction: One OClock Jump (Basie) 1:00
10. Fancy Meeting You (Hefti) 4:04
11. Ill Always Be in Love with You (Green-Ruby-Stept) 2:59
12. Blee Blop Blues (Basie) 2:57
13. Bread (Wilkins) 3:39
14. Spoken Interlude 1:16
15. Jumpin at the Woodside (Basie) 3:33
16. Closing Theme: One OClock Jump (Basie) 4:31
17. Introduction: One OClock Jump (Basie) 1:00
18. Little Pony (Hefti) 2:45
19. Youre Not the Kind (Hudson-Mills) 3:32
20. Why Not (Hefti) 3:17
21. Spoken Interlude 1:40
22. The New Basie Blues (Pierce) 3:21
23. Every Tub (Basie) 3:23
24. Basie English (Guarnieri) 3:53
25. Closing Theme: One OClock Jump (Basie) 0:59
Album details
Personnel on CD 1:
Count Basie & His Orchestra: Paul Campbell, Joe Newman, Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie, Oscar Peterson (p), Freddie Green (g), Ray Brown, Gene Ramey (b), Gus Johnson (d) and Al Hibbler (vcl).
Recorded in New York City, January & July, 1952.
Arrangements by Sy Oliver, Neal Hefti, Nat Pierce, Don Redman, Ernie Wilkins, Buster Harding, Andy Gibson, Buck Clayton & A.K. Salim.
Personnel on CD 2:
Count Basie & His Orchestra: Paul Campbell, Joe Newman, Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie, Oscar Peterson (p), Freddie Green (g), Ray Brown, Gene Ramey (b), Gus Johnson (d) and Al Hibbler (vcl).
Recorded in New York City, July & December, 1952.
Arrangements by Andy Gibson, Teddy McRae, Ernie Wilkins, Buck Clayton & Nat
Pierce.
Personnel on live tracks:
Count Basie & His Orchestra: Paul Campbell, Joe Newman, Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p, org), Freddie Green (g), Jimmy Lewis (b), Gus Johnson (d), Bill Hanrahan (master of ceremonies). Special Guest: Lester Young (ts).
Recorded live at Birdland, New York City, July and August, 1952.
Arrangements by Neal Hefti, A.K. Salim, Ernie Wilkins, Nat Pierce & Eddie Durham.
Original studio recordings produced by Norman Granz.
Reissue produced by Jordi Pujol and "Beethoven" Jean-Michel Reisser.
24-Bit Digitally Remastered
