Who: Pianist and bandleader Count Basie (1904-1984) and his 15-piece orchestra.
What: A mid-career album by one of the most important big band swing leaders of the 1940s. Like Duke Ellington's 1956 Newport record, this album is critical in the history of jazz as it works to revitalize swing music (which had started to fall out of fashion by the mid 1950s) by incorporating bold and innovative jazz elements and arrangements. And like Ellington's record, this album gave a fresh boost of energy to Basie's career and reminded listeners not to count out the older players.
Where: New York, NY.
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| Count Basie (piano) and his orchestra, ca. 1950s. |
When: Starting to get into jazz.
Why: In its fusion of big band swing and improvisational jazz, this is a perfect point of entry for listeners who are new to jazz. But the album is also a must-listen for even seasoned jazz fans, if only for the flawless quality of the performances. The cover and the album title are perfectly representative: the fast numbers are explosive, red-hot, and the band plays at breakneck speeds, while the slower numbers are smooth and smoky.
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| Count Basie |
Microdose: While during many songs, Basie is content to let his orchestra members have the spotlight with impressive solos while he keeps the pulse on the piano, the opening song of the album "The Kid from Red Bank" appropriately places Basie center stage, showing off his literally dynamite piano skills that make it sound like the piano is on fire.
Additional Dose: A live 1965 performance of the Basie Orchestra's signature song "One O'Clock Jump" (originally from 1935).
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