bluesForBartok Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 When Basie reformed his big band in the 1950s, he managed to become entirely new by sticking with what had made him great from the start. And in the process, Basie achieved some of the most extraordinary success of his career. He employed the era's best composers and arrangers, and they left their mark not only on the orchestra but on musical history as well. A new breed of soloists became stand-outs in what was known as "The New Testament" band. Names such as Joe Newman, Paul Quinichette, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Joe Wilder, Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, and Sonny Payne became known during their tenure with Basie. Another name that became a household word thanks to his association with Count Basie is the inimitable Joe Williams. The original reel to reel tapes were the source for most of this release which contains 146 tracks on eight CDs, including seven previously-unreleased recordings and three alternates not in the vaults at Universal Music. This set is scheduled for release in mid-late April and is posted on the website and available for preorder. These are sets that we are working on but have not yet been posted on the website: Scheduled for June Release Mosaic Select: Johnny Richards (MS-017) 3 CDs $39 Johnny Richards was one of the boldest jazz arrangers of the '40s, '50s and '60s. His work is characterized by large instrumentation, a flamboyant, sometimes inventively dissonant style and creative use of Latin rhythms. Best known for his work with Stan Kenton, he also made a number of outstanding projects under his own name including the six albums included here, made between 1955 and '66, all on CD for the first time. Soloists include Gene Quill, Clifford Jordan, Seldon Powell, Burt Collins, Ray Copeland, Marvin Stamm, Jimmy Cleveland, Bill Watrous, and Hank Jones. Mosaic Select: Freddie Slack (MS-018) 3 CDs $39 Pianist Freddie Slack was one of the main exponents of the boogie-woogie craze during the late '30s and early '40s while a member of the popular Will Bradley-Ray McKinley Orchestra. In 1941 he started up his own orchestra and became one of the first recording artists for the newly-formed Capitol label. The best 65 tracks, 15 previously unissued, are collected here. Soloists include Remo Palmieri, T-Bone Walker, Barney Bigard, arrangements by Benny Carter and vocals by Johnny Mercer and Ella Mae Morse. As a bonus, we've included the seven Capitol sides by Ray McKinley's 1942 band. Scheduled For August Release The Pacific Jazz Studio Sessions Of The Jazz Crusaders (MD6-230) 6 CDs $102 Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample and Stix Hooper formed a band in high school in Houston. In 1958, they set out for California where the group evolved into the Jazz Crusaders. Their sound was unmistakable. The dark, rich sound of Wayne Henderson's trombone and Wilton Felder's Texas tenor popped. Joe Sample's articulate piano style was as orchestral as it was rhythmic, and Stix Hooper could provide lots of color without sacrificing the great grooves he'd establish. They blended modern jazz and roadhouse funk seamlessly. This set chronicles the nine studio albums made by the Jazz Crusaders for Pacific Jazz between 1961 and 1970 on 6 CDs with a dozen previously unissued performances. Not included in the set are special projects such as their collaboration with Les McCann or their albums with a big band or Latin musicians added. Quote
king ubu Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 Looking forward to this Basie set very very much! Nice to let it have it's own thread! Quote
Free For All Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 (edited) Great! Some great stuff there; I know nothing about Freddie Slack, though I do remember there was a discussion about him here. The others I will definitely be all over. Edited March 22, 2005 by Free For All Quote
Stefan Wood Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 THE JAZZ CRUSADERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 Is the Johnny Richards material small-group, big-band, or both? Excited about all of these releases. Quote
Michael Fitzgerald Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 There is no such thing as a Johnny Richards small group, is there? Mike Quote
Fran Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 (edited) There is no such thing as a Johnny Richards small group, is there? Mike Right Mike - I know of no Johnny Richards small group recordings - in fact considering all his output I doubt a small group could generate the power he often displayed. My favorite in this new Select is the wild WILD "Rites OF Diablo". At times controlled mayhem but great "Latin" all the same. Edited March 22, 2005 by Fran Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks for the info--I was hoping that they were big-band sides. Admittedly I'm not familiar enough w/Richards to know that small-group sessions would be highly unlikely. Asked in another thread, but isn't Chris Albertson the author of the notes for the new Mosaic Basie? Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 Hmm. . . that's a selling point! I'll say! Chris, we'll gladly "pimp" for you! CD discography doesn't mention this one, but it will be included as well: Chris, I'm doing a bit of research on Evansville, Indiana born Belford Hendricks (probably best known for the arrangements he did for Dinah Washington). An article in an Indiana history magazine claims that he was involved in the writing for KING OF SWING... any truth to that claim that you might know of? Quote
Bluerein Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 King of Swing is included since it's a reissue of 10" material. Strange it's not listed in the dicography but I guess reissues aren't at all. Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 Freddie Slack is a good pianist, though a lot of his recordings fall into the novelty category - T Bone did some of his earliest recording with this group, so that is definitely of interest - Quote
WD45 Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 I don't want to second guess Mosaic, but it seems like Freddie Slack is an odd choice for a Select set. Who knows, maybe there were more requests for Freddie Slack than the Braxton Arista small group sides on the BNBB whn I wasn't looking... Quote
Fran Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 I don't want to second guess Mosaic, but it seems like Freddie Slack is an odd choice for a Select set. Who knows, maybe there were more requests for Freddie Slack than the Braxton Arista small group sides on the BNBB whn I wasn't looking... Additionally, to round it out, the Slack Select has the eight 1942 sides Ray McKinley cut for Capitol with a 17 piece big band. I too am afraid there will be too much sameness with all the boogie that Slack recorded, but there are also the T Bone Walker sides and some really quite good vocals, as I recall, (if you are into that), by Ella Mae Morse and such as Johnny Mercer, Bobby Troup and others. Quote
Brad Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 Johnny Richards and Basie are musts for me. Don't really know Freddie Slack so I'll wait on this to see reaction. Quote
JSngry Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 I'll buy the JC set just to finally get FREEDOM SOUNDS. Quote
Hiptobird Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 How much of the Basie material from this set is already out on CD? Quote
Clunky Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 I've a couple of the Count Basie Dance Sessions on LP , the sound isn't particularly good ( distortion on louder passages), here's hoping it'll be improved on.................. Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 How much of the Basie material from this set is already out on CD? I think I have all three--APRIL IN PARIS, THE KING OF SWING, and BASIE SWINGS, JOE WILLIAMS SINGS. I'm sure that other material has surfaced elsewhere on CD, but I think those are the only straight-up album re-issues on CD. Quote
jazzbo Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 A bit of this material came out on cd in Japan last year. Some of us got these and now are facing the prospect of getting a Mosaic! Haven't they heard the song "Don't be cruel to a heart that's true?" Quote
JSngry Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 Haven't they heard the song "Don't be cruel to a heart that's true?" Probably not as often as they've heard "The Second Time Around"... Quote
Ron S Posted March 23, 2005 Report Posted March 23, 2005 How much of the Basie material from this set is already out on CD? I think I have all three--APRIL IN PARIS, THE KING OF SWING, and BASIE SWINGS, JOE WILLIAMS SINGS. I'm sure that other material has surfaced elsewhere on CD, but I think those are the only straight-up album re-issues on CD. Also, "The Greatest! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards" is currently available on CD. Quote
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