Search - Count Basie :: Chairman of the Board

A brilliant set of swinging blues

Dave Mock | Rockville Centre, New York United States | 08/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Roulette remaster of Count Basie's "Chairman Of the Board" is not only the Basie band at its finest, but a CD that's the closest to being flawless of any in my collection right now. Everything -- the arrangements, audio quality and especially the performing -- comes together. Tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, trumpeter Thad Jones and alto sax/flutist Frank Wess wrote and arranged all but one of the 10 tracks from the original album (the CD reissue also has two bonus cuts), and the result is the perfect blend of shining songwriting and powerful improvs. Case in point: Foster's classic "Blues In Hoss' Flat," a tremendous machine powered by Sonny Payne's energetic but restrained drumming. It features grooving solos by trumpeter Joe Newman and trombonist Henry Coker. And its pace is the perfect demonstration of the "in-the-pocket" tempo Basie preferred for his songs -- quick enough to swing and jump, but steady enough that everybody can dig the beat. Jones provides another winner in "H.R.H," a shimmering instrumental that opens in a fanfare of trumpets, then showcases a nice Al Grey trombone passage, before letting Grey and the saxes build the drama, which climaxes with a forceful trumpet finale. "Kansas City Shout," by Basie's former sax player Ernie Wilkins, is another gem, with a riveting arrangement bouncing the trumpets off the saxes.And Jones's track "The Deacon" is simply holy -- a passionate, brilliantly-arranged set of swinging blues that showcases the author's -- and trombonist Grey's -- abilities to make their instruments sing like rapturous churchgoer. Taking its time here, framed by a long F note held by the horns -- the band builds to a wonderful climax.Any cut on this edition of "Chairman Of the Board" can be considered the highlight of the album, depending upon your taste. There are no "average" tracks. Every piece shows brilliant musicianship, every song is quintessential Basie, benefiting from its leader's terrific sense of pace (and sometimes from the leader's piano -- coming in at just the right moments.)There's a moment which you put a CD (or cassette or LP) into the player, and it blows you away. "Chairman Of the Board" did that for me."

As Good As It Gets In Wonderful Fabulous Sound

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 08/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Chairman of the Board" is one of the most delightful and enjoyable recordings made by the irrepressibly upbeat Count Basie. The notes for the CD argue that this is the finest album of big band jazz made during the LP era. Although one reviewer is less than absolute about this CD, I think most listeners will certainly agree there can be few albums from the era of any marked superiority.



As mentioned in the many fine reviews here, the selections are based on arrangements made by band members Thad Jones; the two Franks, saxophonists Frank Foster and Frank Wess; and ex-member Ernie Wilkins. The ten cuts on the original album have been augmented by two additional numbers, including 'Molten Swing', an updated version of an early Basie classic.



All the recordings are from 1958 - anyone hesitant about the age of the sources should not be - this is one of the golden ages of recording, and this recording exemplifies all that was so sensational about the best records then. The digital reprocessing - done in state of the art 24-bit sounds very very good.



Six pages of great notes by Bob Bernotas on the musicians, with short descriptions and details for each piece rounds off this perfect CD issue.



Five stars is the very least it deserves. Highest possible recommendation!











"

"re-mastered sound is pure Basie"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 06/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now let's take a musical journey back to March, April and December of 1958 with the "Chairman of the Board", featuring Mr. Count Basie and his dynamic group of swinging musicians. Can't recall a better blend or sound coming from any band during that period of Jazz. Basie had a sound that couldn't be duplicated ~ oh many have tried, but there was something about the Count sitting at the piano and each member of the band taking part in this excursion of distinctive pleasure.Take for instance "SEGUE IN C", composed by Frank Wess (alto sax, flute) is typical Basie, each cue is laid back with the Count answering with his plunk of the keyboard. Another tune "KANSAS CITY SHOUT", gives the band a total workout, as they respond to the occasion with a hip sound of brass.Total Time: 48:04 on 12 Tracks ~ Roulette Jazz 81664 ~ (6/24/2003)"