This edition presents he complete classic album "Basie Plays Hefti", a follow up to the celebrated LP "The Atomic Mr.Basie", wich also presented arrangements and tunes by Neal Hefti.
With the obvious exception of the tunes from the Atomic album, the bonus tracks present all other existing songs featuring Basie playing music composed and arranged by Hefti recorded between 1952 and 1958, and taken from various rarely heard and difficult to find studio sessions.
Tracklisting:
01. HAS ANYONE HERE SEEN BASIE? (2:43)
02. CUTE (3:13)
03. PENSIVE MISS (3:49)
04. SLOO FOOT (3:09)
05. ITS AWFLY NICE TO BE WITH YOU (3:34)
06. SCOOT (2:29)
07. A LITTLE TEMPO, PLEASE (2:37)
08. LATE DATE (3:18)
09. COUNT DOWN (2:47)
10. BAG-A BONES (2:44)
11. PONY TAIL (2:59)
12. LOLLYPOP (3:08) (*) Bonus Track
13. DINNER WITH FRIENDS (3:07) (*) Bonus Track
14. SKA-DI-DLE-DEE-BEE-DOO (3:38) (*) Bonus Track
15. TWO FRANKS (3:18) (*) Bonus Track
16. YOU FOR ME (3:13) (*) Bonus Track
17. TWO FOR THE BLUES (2:50) (*) Bonus Track
18. BUBBLES (4:01) (*) Bonus Track
19. SOFTLY WITH FEELING (3:08) (*) Bonus Track
20. CHERRY POINT (3:22) (*) Bonus Track
21. PLYMOUTH ROCK (3:44) (*) Bonus Track
22. SURE THING (3:03) (*) Bonus Track
23. WHY NOT? (3:31) (*) Bonus Track
24. FANCY MEETIN YOU (3:03) (*) Bonus Track
Total time: 76:40 min.
All traks composed and arranged by Neal Hefti.
Tracks #1-11 from "Basie Plays Hefti" (Roulette SR-52011).
Personnel: Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Snooky Young, Wendell Culley (tp), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Marshal Royal (cl, as), Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Billy Mitchell (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d). Recorded in New York City, on April 3, 4 & 14, 1958.
The bonus Tracks [12-24] also recorded in New York City featuring similar personnel as [1-11]:
Track #12, recorded in June 1956.
Track #13, recorded in January 1956.
Tracks #14-17, recorded in August 1954.
Tracks #18-20, recorded in December 1953.
Track #21, recorded in August 1953.
Tracks #22-24, recorded in January 1952.
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Notes:
"The Count Basie Orchestra was in top form for this set of Neal Hefti arrangements. Hefti had been one of the main architects of the new Basie sound of the '50s and on this memorable date he utilizes the flute of Frank Wess prominently. "Cute" (heard here in its initial recording) became a standard."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide