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Count Basie's Columbia years have long been debated, subject to apocryphal written data and legend because of the willy-nilly nature of his tenure with the label and its subsidiaries. Producer Orrin Keepnews has thus assembled America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years, a compilation of Basie's Columbia years that not only makes sense historically; it is a treasure trove for listening. Aesthetics played a grand part in the decision-making process here, as did sound reproduction and discographical accuracy. Over four CDs, the Basie/Columbia collaboration is split into three parts. On disc one and roughly half of two, the small-group recordings are presented, from the original Smith-Jones quintet sessions in 1936 through the 1957 octet recordings. These bands include the 1936 Smith-Jones group that introduced Lester Young and bassist Walter Page to the world via recordings and also included Jimmy Rushing, Jo Jones, and of course, Carl "Tatti" Smith. In addition there is Basie's Bad Boys group, which listed Buck Clayton, Shad Collins, Dicky Wells, and Freddie Green in addition to Basie, Young, Rusing, Page, and Jones. Two selections from these sessions, "Goin' to Chicago Blues" and "Live and Love Tonight," display Basie's considerable abilities on the organ. Though these sessions were recorded in 1939, they didn't appear until 1951 on a 10" LP. Basie's Kansas City Seven -- the previous rhythm section with Lester and Buck -- also recorded in 1939 and are notable for introducing "Lester Leaps In," the saxophonist's signature tune into the canon. From 1942, there are eight cuts from Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, which added Don Byas to the smaller band on four. Finally there are two different octet sessions: the Neal Hefti-arranged 1950 octet session with Buddy DeFranco, Buddy Rich, Charlie Rouse, Serge Chaloff, Jimmy Lewis, and Clark Terry as well as Green and Basie, and another octet from 1957 with Wardell Gray, Gus Johnson, and Rudy Rutherford in the mix. There are 30 selections in all from the small groups. On the remainder of disc two and all of three, the Basie orchestra, beginning with the 1939 John Hammond session that resulted in "Rock-a-Bye Basie," is showcased. There are 39 cuts from the various Basie big bands that recorded for the label, including the Young, Clayton, Sweets Edison band that recorded "12th Street Rag," "Pound Cake," and "Nobody Knows" among others. The 1940 band arranged by Don Redman brought Buddy Tate, Vic Dickenson, and Earle Warren to the orchestra and recorded "Five O'Clock Whistle" and "One O'Clock Jump." Bands from 1941-1951 are also included with performances such as "Avenue C," "Stay on It," "Beaver Junction," "Hob Nail Boogie," and "Blue Skies." Finally, disc four portrays the live-in-the-club side of the band taken from radio broadcasts during the musician's union recording bans. The 1939 band recorded at the Famous Door has been often bootlegged but has never sounded this good. A rare broadcast from the Southland Theatre Restaurant from 1940 is excerpted here, and for the conditions it was recorded in, sounds amazing, as does the Café Society Uptown gig from 1941, which has also been bootlegged to death with dubious quality before now. In addition to the music, there is a very exhaustive set of notes that diaries the band's progress through the era and offers fine documentation as well as commentary about the developments of the band through the swing and bop eras. America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years and Miles Davis' Complete Jack Johnson Sessions -- also a Legacy production -- were the first real entries into the jazz Christmas present bag for 2003. Apart from that, this set in particular makes sense of a previously only sporadically documented period in the Basie repertoire and catalog. This is painstakingly executed reissue project is top-shelf for the Basie collector.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Sammy Cahn, Lyricist - Sammy Cahn, Composer - Saul Chaplin, Lyricist - Saul Chaplin, Composer - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie, Performer
Originally released 1936. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Mitchell Parish, Composer - Mitchell Parish, Lyricist - Jones-Smith, Incorporated, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Harry White, Lyricist - Harry White, Composer
Originally released 1936. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Carl Smith, Trumpet - C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - J. Rushing, Composer - J. Rushing, Lyricist - Jimmy Rushing, Vocal - Walter Page, Bass
Originally released 1936. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
I. Gershwin, Composer - I. Gershwin, Lyricist - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Carl Smith, Trumpet - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - G. Gershwin, Composer - G. Gershwin, Lyricist - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass
Originally released 1936. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Roger Graham, Lyricist - Roger Graham, Composer - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie, Performer - Spencer Williams, Composer - Spencer Williams, Lyricist
Originally recorded 1939 & released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - J. Rushing, Composer - J. Rushing, Lyricist - Count Basie, Performer
Originally Released 1952 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Arthur Johnston, Lyricist - Arthur Johnston, Composer - Jo Jones, Drums - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Sam Coslow, Composer - Sam Coslow, Lyricist - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Count Basie, Piano - Count Basie, Organ - Count Basie, Performer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Lester Young, Clarinet - Walter Page, Bass - James Isaacs, Producer
Originally recorded 1939 & released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jo Jones, Drums - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Mike Berniker, Producer - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - John Hammond, Producer - Larry Keyes, Engineer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Count Basie, Piano - Count Basie, Organ - Count Basie, Performer - Walter Donaldson, Composer - Walter Donaldson, Lyricist - Dan Minor, Trombone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Lester Young, Clarinet - Gus Kahn, Composer - Gus Kahn, Lyricist - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Walter Page, Bass - Jimmy Rushing, Vocal
Originally recorded 1939 & released 1952. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Count Basie's Kansas City Seven, Performer - Unknown, Producer - L. Young, Composer - L. Young, Lyricist - Count Basie, Conductor
Originally Released 1939 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Jo Jones, Drums - L. Young, Composer - L. Young, Lyricist - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Piano - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Freddie Green, Guitar - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Hammond, Producer - Mike Berniker, Producer - M. Williams, Composer - M. Williams, Lyricist - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Leroy Carr, Composer - Leroy Carr, Lyricist
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Clarence Williams, Composer - Clarence Williams, Lyricist - Count Basie, Conductor - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone - Spencer Williams, Composer - Spencer Williams, Lyricist
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Count Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Conductor - Count Basie, Lyricist - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Clarence Williams, Composer - Count Basie, Conductor - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone - Lucy Fletcher, Lyricist
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Elmer Schoebel, Composer - Elmer Schoebel, Lyricist - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Leon Rappolo, Composer - Leon Rappolo, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Paul Mares, Composer - Paul Mares, Lyricist - Count Basie, Conductor - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Count Basie, Conductor - Count Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Lyricist - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Unknown, Producer
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
W.C. Handy, Composer - W.C. Handy, Lyricist - Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, Performer - Unknown, Producer
Originally Released 1944 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - N. Hefti, Composer - N. Hefti, Lyricist - Count Basie Octet, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie, Conductor
Originally Released 1950 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - N. Hefti, Composer - N. Hefti, Lyricist - George Avakian, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer
Originally Released 1950 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - George Avakian, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer - M. Ebbins, Composer - M. Ebbins, Lyricist
Originally Released 1950 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer - Williams, Composer - Williams, Lyricist - Astor, Composer - Astor, Lyricist
Originally Released 1950 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
DISC 2
C. King, Composer - C. King, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
H. Marvell, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer - J. STRACHEY, Composer
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Doc Dougherty, Composer - Ellis Reynolds, Composer - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer - Al J. Neiburg, Lyricist
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Al Killian, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Count Basie Octet, Performer - Various, Alto Saxophone - Eli Robinson, Trombone - Robert Scott, Trombone - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Roger Graham, Lyricist - Roger Graham, Composer - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer - Spencer Williams, Composer - Spencer Williams, Lyricist
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
W. Donaldson, Composer - W. Donaldson, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
G. DePaul, Composer - G. DePaul, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer - D. Raye, Composer - D. Raye, Lyricist - P. Johnston, Composer - P. Johnston, Lyricist
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - George Avakian, Producer - Count Basie Octet, Performer
Originally Released 1957 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Mike Berniker, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - S. Collins, Composer - S. Collins, Lyricist - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Count Basie, Piano - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - L. Young, Composer - L. Young, Lyricist
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - H. Creamer, Composer - H. Creamer, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - J.P. Johnson, Composer - J.P. Johnson, Lyricist
Originally Released 1939 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Lester Young, Composer - Lester Young, Lyricist - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Mike Berniker, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Count Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Piano - Count Basie, Lyricist - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Euday Bowman, Composer - Euday Bowman, Lyricist - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Mike Berniker, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Larry Keyes, Engineer - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Count Basie, Piano - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Earl Warren, Alto Saxophone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Skippy Martin, Lyricist - Skippy Martin, Composer - Mike Berniker, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Count Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie, Piano - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Earl Warren, Alto Saxophone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Skippy Martin, Lyricist - Skippy Martin, Composer - Mike Berniker, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Bob Altshuler, Producer - Count Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie, Piano - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Earl Warren, Alto Saxophone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
C. Basie, Composer - C. Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Unknown, Producer - L. Young, Composer - L. Young, Lyricist - J. Rushing, Composer - J. Rushing, Lyricist
Originally Released 1939 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - James Isaacs, Producer - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - Freddie Green, Guitar - Larry Keyes, Engineer - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Henry Edison, Composer - Henry Edison, Lyricist - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Count Basie, Composer - Count Basie, Lyricist - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Earl Warren, Alto Saxophone
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - C. King, Composer - C. King, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer
Originally Released 1939 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
J. Meyer, Composer - J. Meyer, Lyricist - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - B. MacDonald, Composer - B. MacDonald, Lyricist - Dan Minor, Trombone - B. Rose, Composer - B. Rose, Lyricist - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - William Wells, Trombone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1939. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Jo Jones, Drums - L. Young, Composer - L. Young, Lyricist - Al Killian, Trumpet - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Freddie Green, Guitar - Vic Dickenson, Trombone - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Andy Razaf, Composer - Andy Razaf, Lyricist - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Bob Schafer, Lyricist - Bob Schafer, Composer - J.C. Johnson, Composer - J.C. Johnson, Lyricist
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Sidney Russell, Lyricist - Sidney Russell, Composer - Unknown, Producer - Count Basie, Lyricist - Count Basie, Composer
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Benny Morton, Trombone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - Shad Collins, Trumpet - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Chris Herles, Mastering Engineer - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Unknown, Producer - Dan Minor, Trombone - Freddie Green, Guitar - L. Wood, Composer - L. Wood, Lyricist - Jimmy Rushing, Vocal - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Earl Warren, Alto Saxophone
Originally Released 1940 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Al Killian, Trumpet - M. Mencher, Composer - M. Mencher, Lyricist - Lester Young, Saxophone - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Walter Page, Bass - B. Moll, Composer - B. Moll, Lyricist - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Chris Herles, Mastering Engineer - Buddy Tate, Saxophone - Unknown, Producer - Dan Minor, Trombone - Vic Dickenson, Trombone - Freddie Green, Guitar - Jimmy Rushing, Vocal - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Jack Washington, Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Earl Warren, Saxophone
Originally Released 1940 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
DISC 3
Kim Gannon, Lyricist - Kim Gannon, Composer - Joseph Myron, Lyricist - Joseph Myron, Composer - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Gene Irwin, Lyricist - Gene Irwin, Composer
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Al Killian, Trumpet - Lester Young, Tenor Saxophone - Bill Byrd, Composer - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass - Buck Clayton, Trumpet - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - Vic Dickenson, Trombone - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Freddie Green, Guitar - Henri Moore, Composer - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - Teddy McRae, Composer
Originally released 1940. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer - J. Gorney, Composer - J. Gorney, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - E. Eliscu, Composer - E. Eliscu, Lyricist
Originally Released 1940 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Al Killian, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Dudley Brooks, Arranger - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass - Harry Edison, Trumpet - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Ed Cuffee, Trombone - E. Lewis, Composer - E. Lewis, Lyricist - Freddie Green, Guitar - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone - Tab Smith, Alto Saxophone - Tab Smith, Soprano Saxophone - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1941. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Al Killian, Trumpet - Ed Lewis, Trumpet - Earle Warren, Alto Saxophone - Walter Page, Bass - Harry Edison, Trumpet - T. Smith, Composer - T. Smith, Lyricist - Buddy Tate, Tenor Saxophone - Dan Minor, Trombone - John Hammond, Producer - Ed Cuffee, Trombone - Freddie Green, Guitar - Dickie Wells, Trombone - Jo Jones, Drums - Count Basie, Piano - Don Byas, Tenor Saxophone - Tab Smith, Arranger - Tab Smith, Alto Saxophone - Tab Smith, Soprano Saxophone - Jack Washington, Alto Saxophone - Jack Washington, Baritone Saxophone - Count Basie & His Orchestra, Performer
Originally released 1941. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Count Basie's Columbia years have long been debated, subject to apocryphal written data and legend because of the willy-nilly nature of his tenure with the label and its subsidiaries. Producer Orrin Keepnews has thus assembled America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years, a compilation of Basie's Columbia years that not only makes sense historically; it is a treasure trove for listening. Aesthetics played a grand part in the decision-making process here, as did sound reproduction and discographical accuracy. Over four CDs, the Basie/Columbia collaboration is split into three parts. On disc one and roughly half of two, the small-group recordings are presented, from the original Smith-Jones quintet sessions in 1936 through the 1957 octet recordings. These bands include the 1936 Smith-Jones group that introduced Lester Young and bassist Walter Page to the world via recordings and also included Jimmy Rushing, Jo Jones, and of course, Carl "Tatti" Smith. In addition there is Basie's Bad Boys group, which listed Buck Clayton, Shad Collins, Dicky Wells, and Freddie Green in addition to Basie, Young, Rusing, Page, and Jones. Two selections from these sessions, "Goin' to Chicago Blues" and "Live and Love Tonight," display Basie's considerable abilities on the organ. Though these sessions were recorded in 1939, they didn't appear until 1951 on a 10" LP. Basie's Kansas City Seven -- the previous rhythm section with Lester and Buck -- also recorded in 1939 and are notable for introducing "Lester Leaps In," the saxophonist's signature tune into the canon. From 1942, there are eight cuts from Count Basie & His All American Rhythm Section, which added Don Byas to the smaller band on four. Finally there are two different octet sessions: the Neal Hefti-arranged 1950 octet session with Buddy DeFranco, Buddy Rich, Charlie Rouse, Serge Chaloff, Jimmy Lewis, and Clark Terry as well as Green and Basie, and another octet from 1957 with Wardell Gray, Gus Johnson, and Rudy Rutherford in the mix. There are 30 selections in all from the small groups. On the remainder of disc two and all of three, the Basie orchestra, beginning with the 1939 John Hammond session that resulted in "Rock-a-Bye Basie," is showcased. There are 39 cuts from the various Basie big bands that recorded for the label, including the Young, Clayton, Sweets Edison band that recorded "12th Street Rag," "Pound Cake," and "Nobody Knows" among others. The 1940 band arranged by Don Redman brought Buddy Tate, Vic Dickenson, and Earle Warren to the orchestra and recorded "Five O'Clock Whistle" and "One O'Clock Jump." Bands from 1941-1951 are also included with performances such as "Avenue C," "Stay on It," "Beaver Junction," "Hob Nail Boogie," and "Blue Skies." Finally, disc four portrays the live-in-the-club side of the band taken from radio broadcasts during the musician's union recording bans. The 1939 band recorded at the Famous Door has been often bootlegged but has never sounded this good. A rare broadcast from the Southland Theatre Restaurant from 1940 is excerpted here, and for the conditions it was recorded in, sounds amazing, as does the Café Society Uptown gig from 1941, which has also been bootlegged to death with dubious quality before now. In addition to the music, there is a very exhaustive set of notes that diaries the band's progress through the era and offers fine documentation as well as commentary about the developments of the band through the swing and bop eras. America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years and Miles Davis' Complete Jack Johnson Sessions -- also a Legacy production -- were the first real entries into the jazz Christmas present bag for 2003. Apart from that, this set in particular makes sense of a previously only sporadically documented period in the Basie repertoire and catalog. This is painstakingly executed reissue project is top-shelf for the Basie collector.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 4 disc(s) - 90 track(s)
- Total length: 04:35:21
- Main artists: The Count Basie Orchestra
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Jazz
Originally Recorded 1939, 1940, 1941 & Released 2003, Originally Released 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1964, (P) 2003 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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