🎷 AotW: Jazz Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie - ELLA & BASIE!

Jazz releases not on the CTi or Horizon labels.

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Captain Bacardi

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Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie
ELLA & BASIE!
Verve Records 4061
220px-Ellabasie63.jpg

Released 1963

Peaked at #69 on the Billboard 200 chart (1963)

Produced by Norman Granz
Arrangements by Quincy Jones

Songs:

1. Honeysuckle Rose (Fats Waller/Andy Razaf) - 2:39
2. 'Deed I Do (Fred Rose/Walter Hirsch) - 2:40
3. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (Allan Roberts/Doris Fisher) - 3:20
4. Them There Eyes (William Tracey/Doris Tauber/Maceo Pinkard) - 5:04
5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Wilbur Schwandt/Fabian Andre/Gus Khan) - 4:02
6. Tea For Two (Vincent Youmans/Irving Caesar) - 3:10
7. Satin Doll (Duke Ellington/Johnny Mercer/Billy Strayhorn) - 3:13
8. I'm Beginning To See The Light (Harry James/Duke Ellington/Johnny Hodges/Don George) - 3:55
9. Shiny Stockings (Frank Foster) - 3:30
10. My Last Affair (Haven Carter) - 3:12
11. Ain't Misbehavin' (Fats Waller/Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf) - 3:09
12. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Jimmy McHugh/Dorothy Fields) - 3:00
Musicians:
Ella Fitzgerald - Vocals
Count Basie - Piano
Marshall Royal - Alto Sax, Clarinet
Eric Dixon - Tenor Sax, Flute
Frank Wess - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Flute
Frank Foster - Tenor Sax
Charlie Fowlkes - Baritone Sax
Joe Newman, Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Don Rader, Flip Ricard - Trumpets
Henry Coker, Grover Mitchell, Benny Powell, Urbie Green - Trombones
Freddie Green - Guitar
Buddy Catlett - Bass
Sonny Payne - Drums


Recorded July 16-17, 1963 in New York City
Liner notes by Norman Granz

This LP is out of print. However, a hi-def version is available at the HDTracks website: http://www.hdtracks.com/ella-and-basie-135617



Capt. Bacardi
 
So, just how many albums did Quincy Jones and Count Basie work on together?

I can think of at least 8 (and a half*) at the moment...

Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie: Ella & Basie
Sammy Davis Jr. and Count Basie: Our Shining Hour
Sammy Davis Jr. and Count Basie: Sammy Davis Jr. and Count Basie (*MGM-released version of the above album, with alternate takes and new lead vocal)
Frank Sinatra: Sinatra--Basie / An Historical Musical First
Frank Sinatra: It Might As Well Be Swing
Frank Sinatra: Sinatra at the Sands
Frank Sinatra: Sinatra: Vegas (Disc 2, alternate performance of Sinatra at the Sands)
Count Basie Orch.: Count Basie Live at the Sands (before Frank)
Count Basie Orch.: Li'l Ol' Groovemaker...Basie!

I feel as though I've left out at least one or two...
 
This is a delightful album. This is the first time that Ella & Basie did an entire album together, which is a bit surprising given how long both artists had been around at the time. This seems to be a perfect fit for each artist. Ella has always been my favorite female singer to begin with, and the Basie band has always been a swingin' band! Not a lot of surprises on this album, just exceptional playing by everybody. From the opening of "Honeysuckle Rose" to the end of "Sunny Side" it's a joyous sound. Ella's scat singing really shines on "Them There Eyes" and "Honeysuckle". They can even make trite songs like "Tea For Two" into something special. There's not a lot of soloing on this album, although on "Then There Eyes" and "Dream A Little Dream", which is just the Basie rhythm section with Urbie Green on trombone, Joe Newman on trumpet and Frank Foster on tenor, the horn players do get a chance to stretch out a bit. A solid album which I would highly recommend!


Capt. Bacardi
 
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