DELUXE 5-CD BOX SET - LIMITED EDITION
INCLUDES 5 BONUS TRACKS
This superb 5-CD collection compiles all existing live recordings made by the Atomic band at the Crescendo Club, in Hollywood, in the summer of 1958, for the first time ever on a single edition. The sound quality is excellent throughout the set.
Count Basie’s career was revived in late 1957 thanks to the success of the Neal Hefti-arranged LP Atomic Basie, which became one of his biggest hits. The orchestra was filled with stars, and Joe Williams’ vocals were heard to great effect supported by Hefti’s excellent scores and the superb quality of the band.
This long unavailable material includes amazing extended live versions of many of the perennial Hefti arrangements, plus a variety of songs that formed part of the orchestra’s repertoire at the time, and Sammy Davis Jr. as a guest star singing with the band on Ray Charles’ “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”.
As a bonus, the soundtrack from a complete 17-minute TV show featuring the same band shortly before it started the Crescendo engagement. Our comprehensive booklet contains detailed information, as well as a rare Count Basie interview published in Down Beat during the band’s stay at the Crescendo.
COUNT BASIE and His ORCHESTRA:
THAD JONES, SNOOKY YOUNG, WENDELL CULLEY, JOE NEWMAN, trumpet
BENNY POWELL, HENRY COKER, AL GREY, trombone
FRANK WESS, alto & tenor sax, flute
MARSHALL ROYAL, alto sax, clarinet
BILLY MITCHELL, FRANK FOSTER, tenor sax
CHARLIE FOWLES, baritone sax
COUNT BASIE, piano
FREDDIE GREEN, guitar
EDDIE JONES, bass
SONNY PAYNE, drums
Frank Wess (as, ts, fl)
Marshall Royal (as, cl)
All vocals by JOE WILLIAMS with the exception of “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”, on which SAMMY DAVIS Jr. is the guest vocalist.
All tracks recorded live at the Crescendo Club, Los Angeles, June 24-July 2, 1958.
(*) BONUS TRACKS:
CD5 [10-15]: Same personnel.
NBC-TV Cast, “Bobby Troup’s Stars of Jazz”, Los Angeles, June 23, 1958.
INCLUDES 20-PAGE BOOKLET