Title: Big Band Treasure
Product review: At the time these recordings were made, Basie's band was equal to Ellington's, sharing the position of the top jazz big band; in later decades Basie led some excellent big bands, but guys like Frank Wess, Joe Newman, Thad Jones or Frank Foster could hardly replace Lester Young, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, Dickie Wells or Buddy Tate...All of these classical swing artists are well showcased on this essential CD (Young also plays clarinet); many of their solos you'll find here are often cited as their best work - for example Young's work on Lady be Good (actually recorded on a famous "Jones-Smith Inc." quintet date in 1936) or Taxy War Dance; I'm personally very much thrilled by work on Miss Thing as well...Collaboration between Jimmy Rushing and Wells is also essential, Harry Edison is a master but, while studying this CD I was particularly amazed by the subtlety of Buck Clayton's playing.As for the leader, his piano and organ work leaves me at loss for words.
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