Jazz
With Book
Count Basie left us in 1984. He was a regular visitor to French stages, always accompanied by a gleaming big band which thrilled summer festival-goers; Basie's rounded silhouette, affable manner and relaxed conducting, not to mention his discreet, even laconic piano playing, had become familiar to all. But let there be no mistake: beneath this outwardly easy-going attitude lay one of the most merciless swing-generators jazz had ever known, the single-minded high-priest of vitality in pulsing rhythm, and one of the most far-seeing, most demanding bandleaders in American music. The first CD offers a panorama of his orchestra's greatest hits, featuring such brilliant soloists as Lester Young, Eddie Davis, Buck Clayton, Clark Terry, Harry Edison, Dicky Wells, Jo Jones or Jimmy Rushing; the second is devoted to a topic that is all-too-often neglected: Basie the pianist. Steeped in the blues, his formidable virtues in setting the rhythm, and his unique way of letting his rhythm-section breathe, constitute a master-class in “Swing” piano that has become an unforgettable part of jazz history. |
