Search - Arthur Prysock, Count Basie :: Arthur Prysock & Count Basie

A Natural Combination

08/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is apparently the only album which Prysock and Basie recorded together and one wonders why the two men chose not to reunite. This is a wonderful album. Basie's great BIG band is at its most brash and magnificent and Prysock fits in perfectly; sounding almost as if he'd been singing with the band for years. So many of the recordings on this album are so good they sound pretty well definitive, especially "Gone Again", "I Worry 'Bout You" and even Ellington's great "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me". Prysock's deep yet wide-ranging and characterful baritone is ideal for interpreting high quality standard material. If you like the Basie sound and have an appreciation for the leader's ability to back great vocalists (and Prysock was, despite his relative anonymity) with style and enthusiasm, then this album is an essential purchase."

Crooner Prysock & Swinging Basie Magic ! ! !

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 11/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As soon as you get this CD, run to your CD player, set the highs and lows just right and before you lay back to get whisked away to the soulful and swingin' side of heaven (listening to it straight through) listen to tracks 5 and 6 - - I got this CD because I'm a Jazz organist... and at many of the spots I play, when you walk you walk through the door, the first thing you're going to hear is some PRYSOCK on the juke box. You're going to hear it... you're going to feel it... you're going to smell it.. that distinct bass vibrato, the bluesy romantic crooning... and 90% chance, the next selection in the Juke box will be some Jimmy McGriff.Arthur Prysock, despite his enormous following in "some circles" never really got his kudos in others, and I'm happy I found him. What I found equally interesting when I got this CD were the tracks featuring Count Basie on Organ. It is a relatively little known fact - - but Count Basie was actually one of the first Jazz musicians to "doodle" on the Hammond... his musings would pave ground for the heavy swinging Wild Bill, and later, the young JOS from Norristown. - - As I listened to "I Could Have Told You" and glanced down at the label, it should have come as no surprize that the CD was recorded by Mr. Blue Note himself - - Rudy Van Gelder - - In fact this recording actually represents The Count's only recording at Rudy's place !All in all, the Count's (and Dick Hyman's) organic augmentation here and there represent only a few moments of the album... and rightfuly so take a back seat of course to the man of the hour... the unrivaled Arthur Prysock, who's powerful, rich and emotional voice is well supported by the tightly swinging and well arranged Count Basie Orchestra. -- Though this CD is a bit "brighter" and more swinging than the darkly romantic bluesy ballads that I feel epitomize the PRYSOCK SOUND, and there are even a few moments he seems a bit pushed, this CD definitely serves as an incredible meeting of Jazz greats - - It is definitely a classic bluesy and swinging moment captured in time ! Follow this CD up with Dakota Staton's I WANT A COUNTRY MAN..."

Nothing like the big band music

Luci DMari | Highland, IN USA | 03/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard the song "Don't go to Strangers" on the Internet. It is one of my favorites so I found the artist and learned that he did this album with Count Basie. I listened to excerpts of each song and knew that I wanted it in my collection. I knew Count Basie was one of the best but I had never heard of Arthur Prysock. Needless to say I've heard of him now. I enjoy the CD immensely."