Count Basie - The Legendary New Testament Band 1952-55 (CD)

Count Basie - The Legendary New Testament Band 1952-55 - 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. - It's a collection which offers an enlightening, entertaining and substantial snapshot of Basie's music at a key moment in his career.

Track List:

Disc: 1

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

Disc: 2

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

Disc: 3

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