At Birdland 1956

• Artist: Count Basie
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 18, 1997
• Total Time: 72:22
• Type: Compilation (best of), Live
• Genre: Jazz

Review

This 1997 CD released for the first time 22 selections (plus two brief renditions of "One O'Clock Jump") by the 1956 Count Basie big band. These live performances are fairly typical of the orchestra which had recently begun its long renaissance. Joe Williams takes a couple of vocals; there are plenty of tenor solos by Frank Foster and Frank Wess; the Basie rhythm section swings away; among the many arrangers represented are Neal Hefti, Ernie Wilkins, Jimmy Mundy, Nat Pierce and Buster Harding; additionally, a few of the numbers were never recorded in the studios. The excellent technical quality of these radio broadcasts and the well-rounded program make this a definitive live outing for the Count Basie band of the mid-'50s. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
One O'Clock Jump	Count Basie	Count Basie	(:44)
Corner Pocket	Freddie Green, Donald Wolf	Count Basie	(4:33)
Basie Land	Billy Byers	Count Basie	(4:06)
Cherry Point	Neal Hefti	Count Basie	(3:38)
Alright, Okay, You Win	Mayme Watts, Sidney Wyche	Count Basie	(2:47)
Fancy Meeting You	Kollmer, Neal Hefti	Count Basie	(2:52)
Plymouth Rock	Neal Hefti	Count Basie	(4:42)
One O'Clock Jump	Count Basie	Count Basie	(:43)
Every Tub	Count Basie, Eddie Durham	Count Basie	(3:06)
In a Mellow Tone	Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler	Count Basie	(4:30)
Sixteen Men Swinging	Ernie Wilkins	Count Basie	(2:57)
Fallin' in Love	Nancy Hamilton	Count Basie	(2:49)
Too Close for Comfort	Larry Holofcener, George David Weiss, Jerry Bock	Count Basie	(3:10)
Blee Blop Blues	A.K. Salim, Count Basie, Ahmad Kharab Salim	Count Basie	(2:16)
One O'Clock Jump	Count Basie	Count Basie	(2:53)
One O'Clock Jump	Count Basie	Count Basie	(:44)
Blues-O-Rama	Count Basie	Count Basie	(3:13)
Slats	Ernie Wilkins	Count Basie	(4:35)
Count Me In	Count Basie	Count Basie	(4:26)
Cherry Point	Neal Hefti	Count Basie	(3:33)
No Moon at All	Dave Mann, Redd Evans	Count Basie	(3:01)
Two for the Blues	Neal Hefti	Count Basie	(3:37)
You for Me	Neal Hefti	Count Basie	(3:08)
One O'Clock Jump	Count Basie	Count Basie	(:19)

Credits

Marshall Royal (Sax (Alto)), Eddie Jones (Bass), Buster Harding (Arranger), Count Basie (Piano), Joe Williams (Voices), Benny Powell (Trombone), Ahmad Kharab Salim (Arranger), Thad Jones (Arranger), Nat Pierce (Arranger), Jimmy Mundy (Arranger), Frank Foster (Sax (Tenor)), Edgar Sampson (Arranger), Marshall Royal (Clarinet), Wendell Culley (Trumpet), Wild Bill Davis (Arranger), Bill Hughes (Trombone), Freddie Green (Guitar), Frank Wess (Flute), Henry Coker (Trombone), Bill Graham (Sax (Alto)), Neal Hefti (Arranger), Reunald Jones (Trumpet), Chris Sheridan (Liner Notes), Frank Foster (Arranger), Ernie Wilkins (Arranger), Sonny Payne (Drums), Charlie Fowlkes (Baritone), Thad Jones (Trumpet), Frank Wess (Sax (Tenor)), Freddie Green (Arranger), Frank Wess (Arranger)