Basie 1938/39 quartet sessions

[mikeweil]

Now that I have all three HEP CDs with the Basie Decca sides, I find out that the November 9, 1938 and January 26, 1939 sessions with just the rhythm section are not included - where can I get these in good sound?

Thanks, as always.

[Peter Friedman]

Now that I have all three HEP CDs with the Basie Decca sides, I find out that the November 9, 1938 and January 26, 1939 sessions with just the rhythm section are not included - where can I get these in good sound?

Thanks, as always.

Mike, I have the January 26,1939 tracks you asked bout on this CD.

Count Basie - 1939 - Classics 513

[jazzbo]

Looks as if the '38 tracks are included in Vol. 8 of the Masters of Jazz series, which is likely to be in great sound, and actually looks available at a few places.

Edited February 25, 2012 by jazzbo

[medjuck]

They're all on The Complete Count Basie Decca Recordings box set put out by GRP in 1992.

[J.A.W.]

They're all on The Complete Count Basie Decca Recordings box set put out by GRP in 1992.

Yes, but that set is marred by noise reduction and that's why some people prefer the John R.T. Davies-mastered Hep CDs; they are the ones to get, even if they don't include the small-group sessions. Those can be found on Vols.8 and 9 of the French Masters of Jazz Count Basie series; I don't know if they are still easily available (and affordable), though.

Edited February 25, 2012 by J.A.W.

[jazzbo]

The Definitive release "The Kid From Red Bank" has the '38 and '39 and more and the sound isn't too bad.

[king ubu]

The Definitive release "The Kid From Red Bank" has the '38 and '39 and more and the sound isn't too bad.

I don't trust them any more than I did before finding out that the Bechet RCA set was MP3-sourced... their Basie Columbia sets sound absolutely horrible, too - I could never stand listening to them in their entirety.

[jazzbo]

Well, I won't argue with you about any of that. I will say this disc sounds better than their other Basie discs.

[king ubu]

Duly noted - I once almost bought it, over 10 years ago... but as I've got the old Decca 3CD set, there really was no need.

[gmonahan]

I have the old GRP, but not the Heps. I find two Heps by Basie only ("Listen You Shall Hear" and "Do You Wanna Jump") plus a third with a lot of tracks by the Basie band sans Basie with Harry James ("Basie Rhythm") which nevertheless appears to have some of the Basie Deccas too. Are those the three? And is the sound really that much better than the GRP?

Likewise, is the Hep "The Jubilee Alternatives" also on the Mosaic Basie/Young? I don't think so, but I'm not near my Mosaics at this moment to check.

gregmo

[J.A.W.]

I have the old GRP, but not the Heps. I find two Heps by Basie only ("Listen You Shall Hear" and "Do You Wanna Jump") plus a third with a lot of tracks by the Basie band sans Basie with Harry James ("Basie Rhythm") which nevertheless appears to have some of the Basie Deccas too. Are those the three? And is the sound really that much better than the GRP?

Yes, those are the three Heps and yes, the sound is so much better, at least to my ears.

[gmonahan]

I have the old GRP, but not the Heps. I find two Heps by Basie only ("Listen You Shall Hear" and "Do You Wanna Jump") plus a third with a lot of tracks by the Basie band sans Basie with Harry James ("Basie Rhythm") which nevertheless appears to have some of the Basie Deccas too. Are those the three? And is the sound really that much better than the GRP?

Yes, those are the three Heps and yes, the sound is so much better, at least to my ears.

Thanks Hans, I'll put them on my list!

gregmo

[mikeweil]

After buying the three HEP CDs (they included Harry James' first two sessions because many players from the Basie band of the time were participating) I certainly won't buy the GRP set just for the rhythm section tracks - I trust the ears of Hans and others who compared them. The sound of the HEPs is amazingly good by any standards.

I think I will go for the Definitive CD - I like the idea of all the rhythm section tracks on one CD, and will not buy duplicates.

Thanks all!

I emailed HEP about these tracks and they replied they will not remaster them in the near future.

[jazzbo]

I dug out my copies of Masters of Jazz Basie Vols. 8 and 9 to listen to today. The Quartet sides are split between these two discs. Man, the sound is excellent on these. Lighter in tonal color perhaps than the HEP, very open and clear and dynamic. The live stuff on 8 is in bad sound on anything I have every heard. The Decca Orchestra sides on these discs are very good, as well as the concluding small group sides from Columbia on Vol. 9.

Edited March 9, 2012 by jazzbo