For
nearly fifteen years, Count Basie idolator George Gee has been leading
swinging bands of various sizes and configurations around his native New
York City, and for his studio recording debut (he has recorded several
CD’s of his live gigs), He has tapped ex-Basie bandleader Frank
Foster as arranger and guest conductor. Of course, the septuagenarian
Foster has provided quintessentially swinging charts, and several Basie
alumni (altoist Marshall McDonald, trumpeter Shawn Edmonds, and trombonist
Robert Trowers) are on board. The rhythm section of pianist Jon Cowherd,
guitarist Joe Cohn (son of the late saxophonist/arranger Al Cohn), bassist
Daryl Hall (a Philly native), and drummer Willard Dyson is the tightest
this side of the original Basie band, and Grammy-nominated vocalist Carla
Cook adds her smooth stylings to “Lover Come Back To Me” and
“The Very Thought of You”, and scats two choruses of “Autumn
Leave”. Co-musical director Lance Bryant is the source of the album’s
lone non-Foster track, “I Don’t Want To Learn To Sing The
Blues”, which feature his own vocal. Other soloists include saxist
Michael Hashim (alto on “In a Sentimental Mood”). Lead altoist
Ed Pazant (“Scrapple >From The Apple”), baritone saxist/bass
clarinetist Howard Johnson (the title track). Trumpeter and co-musical
director Walt Szymanski (“When Your Lover Has Gone”), percussionist
Renato Thoms (“Mambo Inn”), and trombonists Eddie Bert, Charles
Stephens, and Jack Jeffers (bass) on “Settin’ the Pace”.
This CD is an absolute must for all Count Basie fans, for the Basie legacy
is in extremely secure hands here!
For
nearly fifteen years, Count Basie idolator George Gee has been leading
swinging bands of various sizes and configurations around his native New
York City, and for his studio recording debut (he has recorded several
CD’s of his live gigs), He has tapped ex-Basie bandleader Frank
Foster as arranger and guest conductor. Of course, the septuagenarian
Foster has provided quintessentially swinging charts, and several Basie
alumni (altoist Marshall McDonald, trumpeter Shawn Edmonds, and trombonist
Robert Trowers) are on board. The rhythm section of pianist Jon Cowherd,
guitarist Joe Cohn (son of the late saxophonist/arranger Al Cohn), bassist
Daryl Hall (a Philly native), and drummer Willard Dyson is the tightest
this side of the original Basie band, and Grammy-nominated vocalist Carla
Cook adds her smooth stylings to “Lover Come Back To Me” and
“The Very Thought of You”, and scats two choruses of “Autumn
Leave”. Co-musical director Lance Bryant is the source of the album’s
lone non-Foster track, “I Don’t Want To Learn To Sing The
Blues”, which feature his own vocal. Other soloists include saxist
Michael Hashim (alto on “In a Sentimental Mood”). Lead altoist
Ed Pazant (“Scrapple >From The Apple”), baritone saxist/bass
clarinetist Howard Johnson (the title track). Trumpeter and co-musical
director Walt Szymanski (“When Your Lover Has Gone”), percussionist
Renato Thoms (“Mambo Inn”), and trombonists Eddie Bert, Charles
Stephens, and Jack Jeffers (bass) on “Settin’ the Pace”.
This CD is an absolute must for all Count Basie fans, for the Basie legacy
is in extremely secure hands here!