Count Basie - Easin' It: Music From The Pen Of Frank Foster

I hope you guys are excited to see this one here today... God knows I am excited to be sharing it.  More from our look at Basie's Roulette years.  This album has NEVER been issued on CD, with the sole exception of the Mosaic box set.  As you can see from the title, these compositions come from Frank Foster.  There's no doubt that this album remains in relative obscurity in spite of the overall quality and the fact that the title track was a huge hit for Basie's live show during this time.  I would say that "Kansas City Suite", an album of Benny Carter tunes, trumps this album in popularity.  That said, I prefer this LP in both compositions and performance - its excellent!!!

The band heard here is at its height as a unit, "The Atomic Band" as some like to call it.  As much as I love the old two track mono LPs, this stereo version does alot to showcase the power and nuance of this band.  I've said it on previous reviews:  Basie was a master of subtlety and could make his orchestra sound both like a freight train passing, or like a pin dropping in a quiet room.  As time continues to pass, his music ages like a fine wine.  The appreciation for exactly what his orchestra was capable of grows and grows.  This well oiled machine is firing on all cylinders on Easin' It.  

Personally I think the tenors win the day here.  Its fitting of course as the music was penned by a tenor player!!  The countless solos are as riveting as they are appropriate - always tasteful and suited to the mood.  Another stand out characteristic is Freddie Green's guitar.  The mix really favours him here and he can be heard really well.  Overall I find this album ebbs and flows much like "Kansas City Suite", so much that its hard to believe that it's not a suite itself.  This stereo LP was ripped at 24/48 and transferred to FLAC for your convenience.  The near mint, flawless transfer will have your jaw on the floor - gorgeous hi-fi sound, exactly what a stereo album should be.  Full hi-res scans are included at 300dpi...  enjoy!!!!!

Roulette Records ‎– SR-52106
1963

A1 Easin' It - Basie

A2 Brotherly Shove
A3 Blues For Daddy-O
B1 Four, Five, Six
B2 Misunderstood Blues
B3 Mama Dev (Blues)
B4 It's About That Time

Tracks A1 to A3 recorded in New York City, December 14 & 15, 1960.
Track B1 recorded in New York City, July 1, 1962.
Tracks B2 to B4 recorded in New York City, July 25 & 26, 1962.

Alto Saxophone – Frank Wess, Marshall Royal

Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Fowlkes
Clarinet – Marshall Royal
Composed By – Frank Foster
Double Bass – Art Davis (tracks: B1), Eddie Jones (tracks: A1 to A3), Ike Isaacs (tracks: B2 to B4)
Drums – Louis Bellson (tracks: B2 to B4), Sonny Payne (tracks: A1 to B1)
Flute – Eric Dixon (tracks: B1 to B4), Frank Wess
Guitar – Freddie Green
Piano – Count Basie
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Mitchell (tracks: A1 to A3), Eric Dixon (tracks: B1 to B4), Frank Foster, Frank Wess
Trombone – Al Grey (tracks: A1 to A3), Benny Powell, Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson (tracks: B1 to B4)
Trumpet – Al Aarons (tracks: B1 to B4), Flip Ricard (tracks: B1 to B4), Joe Newman (tracks: A1 to A3), Snooky Young (tracks: A1 to A3), Sonny Cohn, Thad Jones

The Buddy Tate Celebrity Club Orchestra - Unbroken

Man... I love Buddy Tate.  This date is just another great session in his huge discography.  However, the orchestra owes it's swingin sound to more than just Tate.  They are indeed a group, and a fine one at that.  It was music like this which helped to keep swing alive and well through a decade like the 70's.

On Unbroken, we're treated to the full band blasting through ensemble melodies, individual solos, quiet and down tempo ballads & high flying dance numbers.  Aside from Tate, Bascomb really shines as a soloist - he has perfect tone.

I think it's easy to look back and see why albums like this, which at the time may have seemed average or relic, were infact essential to mainstream music's survival.

This MPS side was ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  It's wonderfully minty and quiet.    
More of that old school vibe here at the Crypt... enjoy!!!

Recorded MPS Studio Villingen, Black Forrest June 30th/July 1st, 1970
MPS / BASF Stereo 20740

1972

Starting in 1952 and continuing into the early 1970s, tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate worked regularly at the Celebrity Club in Harlem with his septet/octet, which he logically called the Celebrity Club Orchestra. Tate and his group made relatively few recordings, which makes this set (cut for MPS and last available domestically as a Pausa LP) quite valuable. In addition to Tate, the group features trumpeter Dud Bascomb (who was with Erskine Hawkins' Orchestra during the swing era), pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Eddie Jones, and such lesser-known players as trombonist Eli Robinson, Ben Richardson (on clarinet, alto and baritone) and drummer George Reed. The unit performs six veteran swing standards (including "Undecided," "Airmail Special" and "Tuxedo Junction") and a couple of basic originals. The enjoyable music swings hard, making one wish that this fine session were reissued on CD. - Scott Yanow / AMG

Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Ben Richardson
Bass – Eddie Jones
Drums – George Reed
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate
Trombone – Eli Robinson
Trumpet – Wilbur Dud Bascomb

Jazz For Playboys

During the 50's, Savoy released quite a few mainstream jam sessions.  They generally revolved around the same batch of players, mostly culled from Basie's band.  The results were excellent and most importantly, consistent.  Jazz For Playboys is no exception and overall is a pleasant ride through jazzville.

You will find that this side gets listed under Frank Wess and Kenny Burrell's names... rightly so.  They appear on all of the tracks and definitely lead the charge as far as soloing is concerned.

I thought this would be a nice break from the Basie project, while still staying in a related sound.  This minty Savoy side is a 1985 reissue, ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC... enjoy!!

Savoy Jazz MG-12095