The Count Basie and His Orchestra (1944)

by Count Basie & His Orchestra, Count Basie, Count Basie Orchestra

Overview

Given the paucity of Basie recordings from the '40s issued by his own label, the quality and content of this collection of 14 songs cut exclusively for radio in 1944 is scandalously good. The tracks, include a long version of "One O'Clock Jump" with an extended piano introduction by Basie, a hot version of "Lady Be Good" with guest clarinetist Artie Shaw (just out of the service) in a soaring solo, Lester Young soloing on a rousing, breakneck-paced version of "Jumpin' at the Woodside," and a rendition of "Rockabye Basie" featuring Illinois Jacquet, during his brief tenure with the Basie band, soloing on tenor sax. Jimmy Rushing and Thelma Carpenter are each featured on two numbers, and Carpenter's bluesy vocals, in particular, are a sultry delight. But the main thrust of this collection is the instrumental work, which, divorced from the three-minute limits of commercial recording, has lots of room for some hot improvisation. The sound quality is good to excellent, with exceptional clarity and richness and no distortion, and the textures are very close and vivid -- the Count's piano on "Basie Boogie" is sharper and crisper than it is on most of his Columbia recordings of the period that have been reissued. The notes by the late Dave Dexter, Jr. are informative and lively, and, as with all Hindsight releases, the estate of the artist is paid a royalty for sales of this CD release. This is a disc to own, to keep, and to play often. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	08/12/1994
Label:	GHB JAZZ FOUNDATION
UPC:	0762247406020

Tracks

1. One O'Clock Jump- (Closing Theme)
2. Rock-A-Bye Basie
3. I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night
4. Basie Boogie
5. Don't Cry Baby
6. Down for Double
7. I've Had This Feeling Before (But Never Like This)
8. I Found a New Baby
9. Swing Shift
10. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
11. Red Bank Boogie
12. I Sent for You Yesterday (And Here You Come Today)
13. Wiggle Woogie
14. Don't Believe Everything You Dream
15. 9:20 Special
16. One O'Clock Jump- (Closing Theme)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Count Basie & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Count Basie   Primary Artist,Piano,Spoken Word
Count Basie Orchestra   Primary Artist
Harry "Sweets" Edison   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Jimmy Rushing   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Buddy Tate   Guest Artist,Reeds,Sax (Tenor)
Lester Young   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Artie Shaw   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Clarinet
Thelma Carpenter   Featured Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Al Killian   Trumpet
Ted Donnelly   Trombone
Eli Robinson   Trombone
Eli Thompson   Reeds
Lou Taylor   Trombone
Shadow Wilson   Drums
Edward Lewis   Trumpet
Freddie Green   Guitar
Earle Warren   Reeds,Vocals
Joe Newman   Trumpet
Rudy Rutherford   Reeds,Clarinet
Jack Washington   Bars
Rodney Richardson   Bass
Dicky Wells   Trombone
Jimmy Powell   Reeds,Sax (Alto)

Technical Credits

Jimmy Rushing   Composer
Sam H. Stept   Composer
Saul Bernie   Composer
Don Jarvis   Digital Mastering
Duke Ellington   Composer
Jack Palmer   Composer
Count Basie   Composer
Frank Driggs   Text
Eddie Durham   Composer
James P. Johnson   Composer
Freddie Green   Composer
Earl Warren   Composer
Shad Collins   Composer
Earle Warren   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Charlie Spivak   Composer
Lester Young   Composer
Milt Jackson   Composer
Milton Ebbins   Composer
Harry Akst   Composer
William Engvick   Composer
Tom Shallcross   Engineer
Buck Clayton   Composer
Harold Adamson   Composer
Sonny Burke   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Clarence Williams   Composer
Don Redman   Composer
Spencer Williams   Composer
Stella Unger   Composer
Andy Razaf   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer