The Atomic Mr. Basie

by Count Basie & His Orchestra, Count Basie

Overview

The release of this album in late 1957 marked the beginning of a glorious new phase in Count Basie's career. Signed to Roulette Records, the newly formed label owned by Morris Levy, the New York recording entrepreneur, jukebox mogul, club owner, and quasi-underworld figure, it took Basie's core audience and a lot of other people by surprise, as a bold, forward-looking statement within the context of a big-band recording -- if not as daring as what Duke Ellington had done at Newport in 1956, still a reminder that there was room for fresh, even dazzling improvisation (especially courtesy of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis's contribution) within the framework of a big-band jazz unit. The band and its key members were all "on" for these two days of sessions, and Neal Hefti's arrangements gave all concerned a chance to show what they could do. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, stands out from the get-go with his solo on "Flight of the Foo Birds," a rewriting of "Give Me the Simple Life" on which the tenor-man shares the stage with Thad Jones's trumpet solo, but nearly knock Jones off that same stage with his pyrotechnics. Davis plunges into new territory, defining the Basie "Atomic" period with his solo on "Whirly-Birds" (originally less aptly titled "Roller Coaster"), which soars into the air on his break. Joe Newman and Thad Jones's muted trumpets are the featured instruments on "Duet." "The Kid From Red Bank" offers an unusual showcase for Basie himself at the piano, playing the least number of notes possible to surprise and bedazzle the listener, while "Li'l Darlin'" offers the Basie band's answer to Ellington's "Mood Indigo." (See also: The Complete Atomic Basie -- 1994). ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	09/08/2009
Label:	Jazz Wax
UPC:	8436006494529

Tracks

1. The Kid From Red Bank
2. Due
3. Splanky
4. Flight of the Foo Birds
5. Double-O
6. Li'l Darlin'
7. Whirly-Bird
8. Midnite Blue
9. After Supper
10. Fantail
11. Teddy the Toad
12. The Late Late Show

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Count Basie & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Count Basie   Primary Artist,Piano,Featured Artist
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross   Primary Artist
Joe Williams   Primary Artist,Vocals
Count Basie Orchestra   Primary Artist
Snooky Young   Trumpet
Benny Powell   Trombone
Thad Jones   Trumpet
Frank Wess   Flute,Reeds,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Freddie Green   Guitar
Frank Foster   Reeds,Sax (Tenor)
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis   Reeds,Sax (Tenor)
Eddie Jones   Bass
Charlie Fowlkes   Reeds,Sax (Baritone)
Wendell Culley   Trumpet
Joe Newman   Trumpet
Marshall Royal   Reeds,Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Henry Coker   Trombone
Sonny Payne   Drums
Billy Mitchell   Sax (Tenor)
Al Grey   Trombone
Ed Jones   Bass

Technical Credits

Sonny Rollins   Composer
Jimmy Mundy   Arranger,Composer
Count Basie   Composer
Frank Foster   Arranger
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Joe Williams   Composer
Neal Hefti   Arranger,Composer
Michael Cuscuna   Producer
Barry Ulanov   Liner Notes
Murray Berlin   Composer
Teddy Reig   Producer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Roy Alfred   Composer
Bob Arnold   Engineer
Alan Rice   Liner Notes
Ahmad Kharab Salim   Composer