Basie Tenormen

[Alon Marcus]

Over the years there were many great tenor players in Basie's band. I know that you'll have a lot of interesting things to tell me about 'em and maybe some recommendations for recordings. I won't mention Prez. He already has his own thread.

Herschel Evans is the first one, the antithesis of Prez.

Some other exceptional players of the old testament are:

Buddy Tate

Don Byas

Illinois Jacquet

The wonderful Wardell Gray

and recently deseased Lucky Thompson

The new testament also had wonderful tenor players

Frank Wess and Frank Foster

Paul Quinichette (this is the best Quinichette picture I googled)

and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

Now this is a list of tremendous players and they all have been with Basie. What do you have to say about these guys and what's there to listen from their solo recordings?

Edited August 20, 2005 by Alon Marcus

[Alexander Hawkins]

Herschel Evans was indeed the first to come to mind here.

I also love Lockjaw's playing. If 'Flight of the Foo Birds' isn't one of the nicest tracks of all time, then...

[jazzbo]

So many great tenors passed through that band.

(Let's not forget Gonsalves!)

Still. . .for me . . . it's Pres.

[Kalo]

A record I used to listen to a lot featured Frank Foster. Hope Meets Foster -- Elmo Hope Quartet and Quintet (Prestige/OJC). All Hope and Foster tunes, too, except "Georgia on my Mind." As I recall, Gary Giddins picked it as Foster's best outside of Basie.

[BeBop]

Basie's band has always been my favorite. This is largely based on the talented tenors he's employed. And, more important and remarkable in my mind is the PAIRS of tenors: Pres and Evans, Foster and Wess,

[Swinging Swede]

I saw the Count Basie Orchestra live in Gothenburg yesterday. The current tenorists are Doug Miller (who replaced Eric Dixon in 1989) and Doug Lawrence (who replaced Kenny Hing in 2003). Both were fine; Lawrence soloed more frequently than Miller.

I must say however that the one who stole the show was guest soloist Gunhild Carling. She joined the band for two numbers at the end, one being the ultrafast Jumpin’ at the Woodside, and she showed incredible technique, great jazz feeling, and had that fat type of tone that you mostly associate with pre-bop trombonists. I had heard her name before from trad/swing contexts, but I had no idea she was this good. The band members were clearly impressed. Check her out if you get the chance. Oh, and Butch Miles at the drums was great to see too. But I’m derailing the thread. Back to talk about tenors!

[Spontooneous]

No love for Eric Dixon, people?

P.S., I don't think that photo is of Quinichette.

[marcello]

Charlie & Paul:

Paul on the left.

Edited August 22, 2005 by marcello

[JSngry]

Jimmy Forrest had a good stint w/the band.

For me, when I buy a Basie side, I look to see if it's gonna have either Pres or Jaws. If it does, I'm in.

[king ubu]

Isn't Budd Johnson on one of those lenghty Roulette live dates?

For me, Prez, once and forever...

I love some of those later recordings with Lockjaw and Dixon, and of course the NT band with the Franks (and Billy Mitchell!!!), but Prez was the best.

Evans, ok... Tate same, Byas, cool... Gray, a great player, but he didn't fit in really (but I love that foto of Fats with the pants up... and Eager, too!)

Something true about the pairings, though (Evans/Prez and the Franks).

But really, the vibe that Prez brought to the OT band, freely floating on top and in and out of the band, that's something we never heard again, and those moments are some of the most beautiful in all recorded jazz I've heard!

[king ubu]

[Alon Marcus]

A record I used to listen to a lot featured Frank Foster. Hope Meets Foster -- Elmo Hope Quartet and Quintet (Prestige/OJC). all< Hope and Foster tunes, too, except "Georgia on my Mind." As I recall, Gary Giddins picked it as Foster's best outside of Basie.

←

Nothing special on Hope meets Foster, nice session (could you expect less?) but no more than this.

My favorite Foster so far is Coalition from Elvin Jones, where he is teamed with another tenor genious; George Coleman.

.

This session is also on Jones' Mosaic.

[Stereojack]

My favorite Foster so far is Coalition from Elvin Jones, where he is teamed with another tenor genious; George Coleman.

.

←

Yes!!! This is my favorite Elvin album! That version of "Yesterdays"............

[montg]

Interesting cover of Rouse and Qunichette--does anyone happen to know where that photo was taken?

For me, the combination of Jaws and the Vice Pres in the early 50s was superb--the contrast really highlights what's great in both of them. And I enjoy the tracks where Jaws is on tenor and Basie is on organ. Has anybody's SOUND on tenor ever meshed better with organ than Jaws?!

[l p]

there may exist a 45 rpm record of Herschel Evans as leader, or playing with non-basie personnel.