The Complete Atomic Basie
By: Count Basie
Price: $6.55
Peppered with voltage and current, this 1958 album presents the best completion of the Count "Basie's New Testament" big band. His "Old Testament" band in the late 1930s, with stars Lester Young, Herschel Evans, Dickie Wells, Buck Clayton, perfected the blues-drenched, straight 4 / 4 rhythm of Kansas City Swing. Building on the Blues Foundation, 1950 This volume offers more ambitious compositions and a dynamic sound and includes more modern developments. One constant, however, is the anchoring rhythm guitar of Freddie Green. As always, Basie can dig deep into rugged step instructions, or select each note as if he'd pay for them separately. Neal Hefti, the primary composer and arranger, here beautifully captures the strengths of individual musicians. His arrangements sparkle missed on the up tunes and create vivid and exotic moods on the slower, clever and innovative without ever being overdone. Beefy tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, who only in the band for a relatively short period, offers the most valuable and vital solo contributions, noting tenderness, Ben Webster, at times, squealing and honking like an R & B man on the other. - Marc Greilsamer
Price: $6.55
Peppered with voltage and current, this 1958 album presents the best completion of the Count "Basie's New Testament" big band. His "Old Testament" band in the late 1930s, with stars Lester Young, Herschel Evans, Dickie Wells, Buck Clayton, perfected the blues-drenched, straight 4 / 4 rhythm of Kansas City Swing. Building on the Blues Foundation, 1950 This volume offers more ambitious compositions and a dynamic sound and includes more modern developments. One constant, however, is the anchoring rhythm guitar of Freddie Green. As always, Basie can dig deep into rugged step instructions, or select each note as if he'd pay for them separately. Neal Hefti, the primary composer and arranger, here beautifully captures the strengths of individual musicians. His arrangements sparkle missed on the up tunes and create vivid and exotic moods on the slower, clever and innovative without ever being overdone. Beefy tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, who only in the band for a relatively short period, offers the most valuable and vital solo contributions, noting tenderness, Ben Webster, at times, squealing and honking like an R & B man on the other. - Marc Greilsamer