The September 14, 2018 release brings together legendary
artists from across jazz and pop to join and celebrate the iconic Count Basie
Orchestra.
A gathering of legendary artists have come together to join
the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Scotty Barnhart for this
historic release celebrating the iconic band from its earliest years,
throughout the decades with Sinatra and Ella, and through to today’s
contemporary artists.
All About that Basie is set for a September 14, 2018 release
via Concord Jazz. The album was produced by eight-time Grammy award winning
producer and former Basie drummer Gregg Field. Field notes that common
throughout the entire album is that great Basie sound. “Basie’s band throughout
the years was able to successfully cover hits of the era with their sound and
as part of the new album we have continued that tradition including hits from
legends like Stevie Wonder and Leonard Cohen as well artists as contemporary as
Adele,” Field said.
To help accomplish that mission, Barnhart and Field put
together an amazing array of guest talent that includes multi-Grammy winning
jazz vocal group Take 6, jazz singer Kurt Elling, organist Joey DeFrancesco,
trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Jon Faddis, Basie band alumni vocalists
Carmen Bradford and Jamie Davis and Stevie Wonder.
All About That Basie opens with a foot stomping, swinging
version of the Joe Williams classic, “Everyday I Have the Blues,” featuring
multi-Grammy winning vocal group Take 6 adding their contemporary vocal
arrangement on top of the classic Basie hit.
Second up is the album’s first “new” entry into the Basie
songbook, Earth, Wind and Fire’s hit “Can’t Hide Love.” The swinging track
features the virtuoso plunger trombonist Wycliffe Gordon soloing and leading
the trombone section with guest pianist Eric Reed underscoring the orchestra
with soulful piano accompaniment. “Can’t Hide Love” is re-imagined with a
sophisticated harmonic sheen and a swinging pulse all delivered in classic
Basie style.
When incorporating new material into the Basie repertoire,
Barnhart says: “I look for tunes with singable melodies and interesting
harmonies. Rhythmically, the orchestra is going to take care of the rest…”
The album continues with Stevie Wonder’s classic “My Cherie
Amour” masterfully arranged in the style of the Basie / Neal Hefti classic, “
Lil’ Darlin’ ” and features Stevie Wonder on harmonica. “My Cherie Amour” (ala
Basie) is a perfect example of All About That Basie “pop” repertoire
re-imagined in timeless Basie style.
To help celebrate the era of the famous Basie and Sinatra
recordings, Grammy award winning singer Kurt Elling reprises the classic
Sinatra track “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” from the album “Sinatra at the Sands” featuring
Count Basie.
Elling’s love for Sinatra is on full display with the Basie
band all the while making this new recording uniquely his own. The track also
features producer Gregg Field in his roll as former Basie and Sinatra drummer.
A place he knows very well.
Next up the band revisits its 1950’s & 60’s ventures
into “Latin” music with the classic hit “Tequila.” The track features trumpet virtuoso Jon
Faddis, weaving Dizzy’s love of “Latin Jazz” into his stratospheric solo as
well as solos by the band’s own Will Matthews on guitar and Bobby Floyd on
piano. “Tequila” also features the legendary Chick Corea percussionist/
conguero Luisito Quintero.
The next re-imagining of a classic and adding to the “new”
Basie repertoire is the Leonard Cohen signature song “Hallelujah.” Arranged by
the band’s own Kris Johnson, this soulful and understated version perfectly
reflects the original spirit of the song with Leonard Cohen’s message soulfully
interpreted by Mark William’s plunger muted, trombone solo.
Organist Wild Bill Davis arranged Basie’s first big hit
after the big band reconstituted in the early 1950’s, establishing a new and
more expansive direction for the band moving beyond its original Kansas City
“Blues” roots.
To celebrate “April in Paris” and Basie’s often overlooked
organ recordings, Hammond B-3 virtuoso Joey DeFrancesco joins for his second
time recording with the band following his debut on the Concord classic “Ray
Sings / Basie Swings.”
The long-associated pairing of Ella & Basie is
celebrated on the next track with the Basie band’s own vocalist Carmen
Bradford, debuting a never before recorded arrangement of “Honeysuckle Rose”
written for Ella by long time collaborator Benny Carter. Bradford is a master
of the art of singing with 18 men swinging and she delivers a playful love
letter to Ella.
The last “new” addition to the Basie orchestra book is the
Adele hit “Hello,” demonstrating once again that the Basie sound remains as
unique and relevant as ever.
“Hello” features a trumpet solo by arranger Kris Johnson as
well as a highly stylized piano solo from the band’s own Bobby Floyd delivering
Basie’s signature “splank” at the end to remind us that once again it’s all
about that Basie.
Going all the way back to the band’s Kansas City roots, and
to celebrate the great Basie band vocalists, Basie alum, big baritone Jamie
Davis continues the tradition with a reprise of Jimmy Rushing’s hit “Sent For
You Yesterday,” this time with the small band featuring leader Barnhart, Field,
Eric Reed, saxophonist Rickey Woodard, and bassist Trevor Ware.
Davis shouts: “Well, you came home to Joe. You came home to
Jimmy. Now it’s time you come home to me…” The Basie vocalist succession
continues in great hands.
All About That Basie concludes with the great composer Thad
Jones’ message “From One to Another,” which is a perfect metaphor to close the
album.
The metaphor being that the Basie Orchestra is passing along
the art that Basie created along with all of his musicians, the arrangers and
artists who continue to collaborate with this timeless American musical
treasure that is now known simply by the all encompassing “Basie.”
All About That Basie is exactly that. It celebrates the
past, the present and assures a swinging musical future for all…
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