• In this set an original entitled “Basie Beat” is the key to the whole business of these Count Basie sessions from 1952. The Basie beat permeates everything, a lithe, light, swinging thing whose insinuating power only gradually makes itself felt. It’s a fusion of sound and beat - adding up to a weightless, polished, rolling, swinging jazz.
• And it runs through the quintet, sextet, septet and nonet sides here, some of which include Oscar Peterson on piano with Basie on organ. Among the main soloists are Joe Newman, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, and Paul Quinichette, who, along with the men in the rhythm section, Gus Johnson, Ray Brown, Gene Ramey, Buddy Rich, and Freddie Green, provide a constantly swinging force and ease that animates the whole set and lives up to the name - The Swinging Count!
• Personnel : Ernie Wilkins (arr), Reunald Jones, Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Marshall Royal (cl), Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bars), Count Basie (p, org), Oscar Peterson (p), Freddie Green (g), Ray Brown, Gene Ramey (b), Gus Johnson, Buddy Rich (d) - recorded New York City, July , December, 1952. |
