Given the paucity of Basie recordings from the '40s issued by his own label, the quality and content of this collection of 14 songs cut exclusively for radio in 1944 is scandalously good. The tracks, include a long version of "One O'Clock Jump" with an extended piano introduction by Basie, a hot version of "Lady Be Good" with guest clarinetist Artie Shaw (just out of the service) in a soaring solo, Lester Young soloing on a rousing, breakneck-paced version of "Jumpin' at the Woodside," and a rendition of "Rockabye Basie" ...
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Given the paucity of Basie recordings from the '40s issued by his own label, the quality and content of this collection of 14 songs cut exclusively for radio in 1944 is scandalously good. The tracks, include a long version of "One O'Clock Jump" with an extended piano introduction by Basie, a hot version of "Lady Be Good" with guest clarinetist Artie Shaw (just out of the service) in a soaring solo, Lester Young soloing on a rousing, breakneck-paced version of "Jumpin' at the Woodside," and a rendition of "Rockabye Basie" featuring Illinois Jacquet, during his brief tenure with the Basie band, soloing on tenor sax. Jimmy Rushing and Thelma Carpenter are each featured on two numbers, and Carpenter's bluesy vocals, in particular, are a sultry delight. But the main thrust of this collection is the instrumental work, which, divorced from the three-minute limits of commercial recording, has lots of room for some hot improvisation. The sound quality is good to excellent, with exceptional clarity and richness and no distortion, and the textures are very close and vivid -- the Count's piano on "Basie Boogie" is sharper and crisper than it is on most of his Columbia recordings of the period that have been reissued. The notes by the late Dave Dexter, Jr. are informative and lively, and, as with all Hindsight releases, the estate of the artist is paid a royalty for sales of this CD release. This is a disc to own, to keep, and to play often. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
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