Count Basie - Basie At Birdland

180-gram double LP

Remastering by: Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

Basie at Birdland is a 1961 live album featuring Count Basie and his famed orchestra playing at Birdland in New York City. Recorded on June 27-28 1961, and released just one month later in July of that year, 'Basie at Birdland' proved once again that Count Basie was one of the world's best players, band leaders, and flag bearers of jazz.

Birdland, the self-proclaimed, "Jazz Corner of the World" provides a raucous, lively backdrop to the band's soulful Kansas City style jazz, on tunes such as, "Blue Backstage," and "Good Time Blues" alongside their harder hitting, big band bop. Basie at Birdland features the Count at the height of his prowess, and he and his band's fervent, swinging performance cannot be missed — it's perfect for novices and aficionados alike.

This is a jaw-dropping recording of Basie's band in 1961. The band is so tight and swings so hard it sounds at times as if one is listening to a Wurlitzer organ. There simply was no band that swung as hard as Basie's — at least not as recorded on this live date. Amazing.

Simply the best live recording of a big band ever!

Musicians:
Marshal Royal, alto saxophone, clarinet
Frank Wess, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
Charlie Fowlkes, baritone saxophone
Eddie Jones, bass
Sonny Payne, drums
Freddie Green, guitar
Count Basie, piano
Budd Johnson, Frank Foster, tenor saxophone
Bennie Powell, Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, trombone
Snookie Young, Leonard Johnson, George Cohn, Thad Jones, trumpet

Recorded live on June 27 & 28, 1961 at Birdland, New York City

Side A:

1. Little Pony

2. Discommotion

3. Blues Backstage

4. Blee Blop Blues

5. Whirly Bird

6.One O'Clock Jump

Side B:

1. Segue In "C"

2. Good Time Blues

3. One O'Clock Jump

Side C:

1. Easin' It

2. A Little Tempo, Please

3. Corner Pocket

4. I Needs To Be Bee'd With

Side D:

1. Discommotion

2. Segue In C (Alternate Take)

3. Whirly-Bird

4. One O'Clock Jump (Theme)

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