My favorite genre of music is the big band jazz orchestra - it's got it all, the swing, explosive dynamics, massed brass, double bass. When it's fronted by an exponent like Count Basie, it is difficult for me not to stand up and groove.
Count Basie passed away in 1984, and one of his most popular albums among audiophiles (rightly) is 88 Basie Street recorded the year before he died. This won the Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band. Recorded at Ocean Way studios and engineered by the masterful Allen Sides, the sound quality is great as is the musical performance. There is a very contemporary feel to the album as Cleaveland Eaton plays all electric bass on this album.
However, I think that of Count Basie's final 3 albums, the better one (the one I prefer) is Me and You. Recorded just 3 months earlier than 88 Basie Street, Me and You is more explosively dynamic, has better bass, and a more swinging groove. Arranged by Ernie Wilkins, engineered by Dennis Sands, and recorded at Group IV Studios, it is over-shadowed by the award winning 88 Basie Street. IMHO, it is the better album both for music and sound.
For both 88 Basie Street and Me and You, the CDs both remastered by Joe Tarantino in 1987 are good, but the original Pablo vinyl are SPECTACULAR! You need a really good cartridge to do justice to Side 1 Track 2 on Me and You.
Count Basie passed away in 1984, and one of his most popular albums among audiophiles (rightly) is 88 Basie Street recorded the year before he died. This won the Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band. Recorded at Ocean Way studios and engineered by the masterful Allen Sides, the sound quality is great as is the musical performance. There is a very contemporary feel to the album as Cleaveland Eaton plays all electric bass on this album.
However, I think that of Count Basie's final 3 albums, the better one (the one I prefer) is Me and You. Recorded just 3 months earlier than 88 Basie Street, Me and You is more explosively dynamic, has better bass, and a more swinging groove. Arranged by Ernie Wilkins, engineered by Dennis Sands, and recorded at Group IV Studios, it is over-shadowed by the award winning 88 Basie Street. IMHO, it is the better album both for music and sound.
For both 88 Basie Street and Me and You, the CDs both remastered by Joe Tarantino in 1987 are good, but the original Pablo vinyl are SPECTACULAR! You need a really good cartridge to do justice to Side 1 Track 2 on Me and You.
I was sniped in the closing 3-4 mins. bidding way more than i thought it was worth at 165. imo, 88 basie street is his best album on Pablo, the others arent too shabby either.
