Tomorrow, August 21, is Count Basie’s birthday and were the late big-band giant still living, he’d be turning 100. In celebration of the Count’s centennial year, Blue Note will release two double-CD sets, The Count Basie Story and Count Basie & Friends: 100th Birthday Bash, on Tuesday, Aug. 24. Here’s some info on each release:
The Count Basie Story: In 1960, the Basie band celebrated its silver anniversary by making a double-album of its classics from the ’30s and ’40s in the glorious state-of-the-art fidelity that producer Teddy Reig was then achieving while recording the band for Roulette Records at Capitol’s New York studio. Basie Story brings us those tracks again, remastered in 24-bit. Here’s a track list:
Disc One:
1. Broadway 3:21 (McRae-Bird-Woode)
2. Down For Double 2:57 (Freddie Green)
3. Lester Leaps In 4:15 (Lester Young)
4. Topsy 3:40 (E. Battle-E. Durham)
5. Jumpin’ At The Woodside 3:09 (William Basie)
6. Taps Miller 3:20 (W. Basie-B. Russell)
7. Shorty George 2:54 (H. Edison-W. Basie)
8. Doggin’ Around 2:59 (E. Battle-H. Evans)
9. Avenue C 2:31 (Buck Clayton)
10. Jive At Five 3:00 (W. Basie-H. Edison)
11. Rock-a-bye Basie 3:36 (Basie-Collins-Young)
12. Moten Swing 4:50 (E. Durham-W. Basie)
Disc Two:
1. Swingin’ The Blues 3:15 (E. Durham-W. Basie)
2. Sent For You Yesterday 3:07 (Rushing-Basie-Durham)
3. Tickle Toe 2:33 (Lester Young)
4. Blue And Sentimental 4:04 (William Basie)
5. Time Out 2:42 (E. Battle-E. Durham)
6. 9:20 Special 3:46 (Earl Warren)
7. Red Bank Boogie 2:13 (W. Basie-B. Clayton)
8. Every Tub 3:08 (W. Basie-E. Durham)
9. Dickie’s Dream 4:06 (W. Basie-L. Young)
10. Texas Shuffle 3:10 (H. Evans-E. Battle)
11. Out The Window 2:49 (E. Durham-W. Basie)
12. Boogie Woogie (I May Be Wrong) 3:03 (J. Rushing-W. Basie)
13. Good Morning Blues 2:49 (Basie-Durham-Rushing)
14. Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You 2:31 (D. Redman-A. Razaf)
Personnel:
Sonny Cohn, Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Joe Newman (trumpets), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (trombones), Marshall Royal (alto sax, clarinet), Frank Wess (alto sax, tenor sax), Billy Mitchell (tenor sax, clarinet), Frank Foster (tenor sax), Charles Fowlkes (baritone sax), Count Basie (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Eddie Jones (bass), Sonny Payne (drums).
On “Boogie Woogie”, “Sent For You Yesterday” and “Broadway”, Gus Johnson (drums) replaces Sonny Payne. On “Jive At Five” and “Time Out”, Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet) and Seldon Powell (tenor sax) replace Thad Jones and Frank Foster. On “Good Morning Blues”, John Anderson (trumpet) replaces Sonny Cohn. On “Moten Swing”, Wendell Culley (trumpet) replaces Sonny Cohn. On “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You”, Wendell Culley (trumpet), Bill Hughes (trombone) and Eddie Lockjaw Davis (tenor sax) replace Sonny Cohn, Al Grey and Billy Mitchell. Add Joe Williams (vocal) on “Sent For You Yesterday”, “Boogie Woogie”, “Good Morning Blues” and “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You”.
Count Basie & Friends: 100th Birthday Bash: A 100th birthday bash for Basie that plays like a jam session from heaven, this collection gathers recordings made between 1957-62 featuring such notable friends as Nat “King” Cole, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Billy Eckstine, Ben Webster, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Harry “Sweets” Edison and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Track and personnel lists:
DISC ONE:
1. WHIRLY-BIRDS 3:49 (Neal Hefti)
The Count Basie Orchestra (A)
Arranged by Neal Hefti
Recorded on October 21, 1957
Originally issued on Roulette 52003, Atomic Basie (E=mc2)
2. GOIN’ TO CHICAGO 4:11 (William Basie-Jimmy Rushing)
Vocals by Joe Williams & Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Frank Foster and Jon Hendricks
Recorded May 27, 1958
Originally issued on Roulette 52018, Sing Along With Basie
3. CUTE 3:11 (Neal Hefti)
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Neal Hefti
Recorded on April 14, 1958
Originally issued on Roulette 52011, Basie Plays Hefti
4. I WANT A LITTLE GIRL 2:49 (Billy Moll-Murray Mencher)
Nat King Cole
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Dave Cavanaugh
Recorded on June 30, 1958
Originally issued on Capitol W 1120 , Welcome To The Club
5. TEACH ME TONIGHT 2:51 (Gene DePaul-Sammy Cahn)
Vocal by Joe Williams & Sarah Vaughan
The Count Basie Orchestra (D)
Arranged by Ernie Wilkins
Recorded on July 19, 1960
Originally issued on Roulette single 4273
6. THE LATE LATE SHOW 2:49 (Murray Berlin-Roy Alfred)
The Count Basie Orchestra (A)
Arranged by Jimmy Mundy
Recorded on October 22, 1957
Originally issued on Roulette single 4109
7. LONESOME LOVER BLUES 3:09 (Billy Eckstine)
Vocal by Billy Eckstine
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Quincy Jones
Recorded on May 23, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette single 4170, 52029, Basie/Eckstine Incorporated
8. BLUE AND SENTIMENTAL 3:34 (William Basie)
Guest soloist: Ben Webster
Count Basie Small Group (B)
Arranged by Quincy Jones
Recorded on July 20, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 52051, String Along With Basie
9. TRAV’LIN’ LIGHT 3:51 (Jimmy Mundy-Trummy Young-Johnny Mercer)
Vocal by Joe Williams
The Count Basie Orchestra (D)
Arranged by Frank Foster
Recorded on August 24, 1960
Originally issued on Roulette 52054, Just The Blues
10. FAROUK 5:22 (Eddie Davis)
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis Small Group (A)
Recorded on December 17, 1957
Originally issued on Roulette 52007, Count Basie Presents the Eddie Davis Trio
11. FOR LENA AND LENNIE 3:48 (Quincy Jones)
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Quincy Jones
Recorded on December 18, 1958
Originally issued on Roulette 52024, One More Time
12. UNTOUCHABLE 3:15 (Dar Shan)
Vocal by Irene Reid
The Count Basie Orchestra (E)
Arranged by Ernie Wilkins
Recorded on January 13, 1962
Originally issued on Roulette single 4411
13. EVERYDAY (I HAVE THE BLUES) 4:42 (Peter Chapman)
Vocal by Joe Williams
The Count Basie Orchestra (C)
Arranged by Ernie Wilkins
Recorded on September 24, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 52033, Everyday I Have The Blues
14. I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE 3:03 (Alan Jay Lerner-Fredricke Loewe)
Vocal by Tony Bennett
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Recorded on January 5 & 6, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 25072, Count Basie Swings-Tony Bennett Sings
Disc Two:
1. JUMPIN’ AT THE WOODSIDE 3:19 (William Basie-Jon Hendricks)
Vocals by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Frank Foster and Jon Hendricks
Recorded on September 3, 1958
Originally issued on Roulette single 4124, 52018, Sing Along With Basie
2. LI’L DARLIN’ 4:49 (Neal Hefti)
The Count Basie Orchestra (A)
Arranged by Neal Hefti
Recorded on October 21, 1957
Originally issued on Roulette single 4040, 52003, Atomic Basie (E=mc2)
3. IF I WERE A BELL 2:43 (Frank Loesser)
Vocal by Joe Williams & Sarah Vaughan
The Count Basie Orchestra (D)
Arranged by Thad Jones
Recorded on July 19, 1960
Originally issued on Roulette single 4273
4. SPLANKY 3:35 (Neal Hefti)
The Count Basie Orchestra (A)
Arranged by Neal Hefti
Recorded on October 22, 1957
Originally issued on Roulette 52003, Atomic Basie (E=mc2)
5. AIN’T NO USE 2:55 (Sid Wyche-Leroy Kirkland)
Vocal by Joe Williams
The Count Basie Orchestra (C)
Recorded on September 25, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 52033, Everyday I Have The Blues
6. UNTIL I MET YOU (CORNER POCKET) 2:49 (Freddie Green-Donald Wolf)
Vocal by Sarah Vaughan
The Count Basie Orchestra (D)
Arranged by Thad Jones
Recorded on January 10, 1961
Originally issued on Roulette 52061, Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan
7. SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY 3:14 (Neil Moret-Richard Whiting)
Guest soloist: Illinois Jacquet
Count Basie Small Group (C)
Arranged by George Williams
Recorded on May 10, 1960
Originally issued on Roulette 52051, String Along With Basie
8. THE LATE LATE SHOW 2:32 (Murray Berlin-Roy Alfred)
Vocal by Nat King Cole
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Dave Cavanaugh
Recorded on July 2, 1958
Originally issued on Capitol W 1120 , Welcome To The Club
9. JEEPERS CREEPERS 2:06 (Harry Warren-Johnny Mercer)
Vocal by Tony Bennett
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Ralph Sharon
Recorded on January 5 & 6, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 25072, Count Basie Swings-Tony Bennett Sings
10. JELLY JELLY 3:03 (Billy Eckstine-Earl Hines)
Vocal by Billy Eckstine
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Arranged by Bobby Tucker
Recorded on May 23, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 52029, Basie/Eckstine Incorporated
11. KATY DO 4:21 (Benny Carter)
The Count Basie Orchestra (D)
Arranged by Benny Carter
Recorded on September 6, 1960
Roulette 52056, Kansas City Suite: The Music of Benny Carter
12. SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME 3:56 (Buddy Johnson)
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis Small Group (A)
Recorded on December 17, 1957
Originally issued on Roulette 52007, Count Basie Presents the Eddie Davis Trio
13. APRIL IN PARIS 3:35 (Vernon Duke-E.Y. Harburg)
The Count Basie Orchestra (F)
Arranged by Wild Bill Davis
Recorded live in Stockholm on August 10, 1962
Roulette 52099, Basie In Sweden
14. ONE O’CLOCK JUMP 3:48 (William Basie)
Guest soloist: Harry “Sweets” Edison
The Count Basie Orchestra (B)
Recorded live in Miami on May 31, 1959
Originally issued on Roulette 52028, Breakfast And Barbecue
Orchestra A:
Wendell Culley, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, Joe Newman (tps),Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tbs), Frank Wess (as, fl), Marshall Royal (as), Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d)
Orchestra B:
Wendell Culley, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, Joe Newman (tps), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tbs), Frank Wess (as, fl), Marshall Royal (as), Billy Mitchell (ts), Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d)
On “I’ve Grown Accostumed To Your Face”, Ralph Sharon replaces Count Basie.
On the Nat King Cole selections, John Anderson is added to the trumpet section and Gerald Wiggins replaces Count Basie.
On the Billy Eckstine selections, Bobby Tucker and George Duvivier replace Count Basie and Eddie Jones.
Orchestra C:
John Anderson, Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Joe Newman (tps), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tbs), Marshall Royal (as), Frank Wess (as, fl), Billy Mitchell (ts), Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bari, fl), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d)
Orchestra D:
Sonny Cohn, Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Joe Newman (tps),
Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tbs), Marshall Royal (as, cl), Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Billy Mitchell (ts, cl), Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bari, bcl, fl), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d)
On the Sarah Vaughan selections, Kirk Stuart replaces Count Basie
Orchestra E:
Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Thad Jones, Snooky Young (tps), Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, Benny Powell (tbs), Marshall Royal (as, cl), Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Eric Dixon (ts, fl), Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d)
Orchestra F:
Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Thad Jones, Fip Ricard (tps), Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, Benny Powell (tbs), Marshall Royal (as, cl), Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Eric Dixon (ts, fl), Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Ike Isaacs (b), Louie Bellson (d)
Small Group A:
Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Joe Newman (tp), Count Basie (p), Shirley Scott (org), George Duvivier (b), Butch Ballard (d).
Small Group B:
Ben Webster (ts), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tbs), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Goerge Duvivier (b), Jimmy Crwaford (d), unknown strings
Small Group C:
Illinois Jacquet (ts), Frank Wess, Herbie Mann, Andy Fitzgerald (fl), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Goerge Duvivier (b), Jimmy Crwaford (d), unknown strings
