Count Basie – The Legendary New Testament Band 1952-55 – 3CD

Count Basie was one of the most celebrated and influential personalities in jazz, as pianist, organist, bandleader, composer and innovator, both during his stellar career which spanned half a century across the middle decades of the 20th century, and in the years since then. That career encompassed several musical and stylistic eras, and one of the most notable of those was the period in the early 50s, when, after a creative re-think, he formed a new orchestra, which became known as “The New Testament Band”, which adopted a musical approach which was fresh and distinctive. That approach was captured on recordings which were done at sessions covering a period of around four years, with the titles being issued on several albums which came out on Norman Granz’s Clef and Verve labels during the mid-1950s. This 63-track 3-CD collection comprises just about all the recordings which were released on the albums “The Count”, “Basie Jazz”, Basie Rides Again”, “The Swinging Count”, “Dance Session”, “Dance Session No. 2”, and “Basie”. As one would expect, the performances feature some notable jazz names, including vocalist Al Hibbler, as well as renowned arrangers like Neal Hefti, Buster Harding and Manny Albam. It’s a collection which offers an enlightening, entertaining and substantial snapshot of Basie’s music at a key moment in his career.

Track Listing:

CD1: 1. New Basie Blues -   2. Sure Thing -   3. Why Not? -   4. Fancy Meetin' You -   5. Bootsie -   6. Tom Whaley -   7. Paradise Squat -   8. Basie Talks -   9. Hob Nail Boogie -   10. Jack And Jill -   11. Bunny -   12. Cash Box -   13. Extended Blues -   14. Be My Guest -   15. Blues For The Count And Oscar -   16. Oh, Lady Be Good! -   17. I Want A Little Girl -   18. Song Of The Islands -   19. Goin' To Chicago -   20. Sent For You Yesterday And Here You Come Today -   21. Bread -   22. There's A Small Hotel -

CD2: 1. Tippin' On The Q.T. -   2. Blee-Blop Blues -   3. Jive At Five -   4. No Name -   5. Redhead -   6. Every Tub -   7. Basie Beat -   8. She's Funny That Way -   9. Count's Organ Blues -   10. K.C. Organ Blues -   11. Blue And Sentimental -   12. Stan Shorthair -   13. As Long As I Live -   14. Royal Garden Blues -   15. Straight Life -   16. Basie Goes Wess -   17. Softly, With Feeling -   18. Peace Pipe -   19. Blues Go Away! -   20. Cherry Point -   21. Bubbles -   22. Right On -

CD3: 1. The Blues Done Come Back -   2. Plymouth Rock -   3. Stereophonic -   4. Mambo Mist -   5. Sixteen Men Swinging -   6. She's Just My Size -   7. You're Not The Kind -   8. I Feel Like A New Man -   9. You For Me -   10. Soft Drink -   11. Two For The Blues -   12. Slow But Sure -   13. Blues Backstage -   14. Down For The Count -   15. Ska-Di-Dle-Dee-Bee-Doo -   16. Perdido -   17. Eventide -   18. Two Franks -   19. Rails -