Count Basie And The Kansas City 7 (CD)
Count Basie
Amoeba Review
John Schacht 08/11/2010
This 1962 date rekindled Count Basie’s Kansas City Seven from the 30s, when the bandleader recorded and played with a partial section of his big band for financial reasons during the Depression. There may be no Lester Young, Buck Clayton or Jo Jones, but holdover Freddie Green returns on guitar with Basie’s current rhythm section of Ed Jones on bass and drummer Sonny Payne, and the septet is filled out with cornetist Thad Jones, tenor Eric Dixon, Frank Foster (tenor and clarinet), and flutist Frank Wess. The good news is that the session swings with same passion that characterized Basie’s bands throughout his career, and the small group again allows for subtle shadings that might get lost in the big band thunder. "Shoe Shine Boy" and "Lady Be Good" look back to the first small group recordings, but this date includes contemporary compositions from Jones, Wess and Basie as well, though the flavor is always based in the Kansas City blues sound. Jones plays both open and muted adding texture to the reeds, and Wess’ flute solos are a highlight throughout. Basie’s trademark back-beat key-tinkling still defines this band’s sound, though his turn at the organ on the glacially paced “I Want a Little Girl” is more disconcerting than intriguing. You don’t get the power of the Basie big band here, but the swing is intact, and the subtlety makes for an interesting change of pace.
Track Listing
Disc 1 Titles |
Artist |
Length |
---|---|---|
1.
Oh, Lady Be Good [1962 Version]
|
Count Basie | 04:39 |
2.
Secrets
|
Count Basie | 04:06 |
3.
I Want a Little Girl
|
Count Basie | 04:14 |
4.
Shoe Shine Boy
|
Count Basie | 04:06 |
5.
Count's Place
|
Count Basie | 05:27 |
6.
Senator Whitehead
|
Count Basie | 04:10 |
7.
Tally Ho, Mr. Basie!
|
Count Basie | 04:26 |
8.
What'cha Talkin?
|
Count Basie | 04:59 |
9.
Trey of Hearts
|
Count Basie | 03:44 |