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Count Basie picks his own set of "winners" – tracks pulled from the pop charts, and re-arranged by Billy Byers to give them the true Basie touch – that soaring, syncopated groove that makes the Basie band so great at this stretch in their career! The set features a number of 60s standards, plus a few older tunes – all performed in a warm, buoyant tone that was every bit the best side of the Basie group in that decade. Players include Eric Dixon and Eddie Lockjaw Davis on saxes, plus lots of great trombone from Al Grey – players who burst out of the group with tight short solos that really get the point across! Titles include "I'll Get By", "Watermelon Man", "Exodus", "I'm Walkin", and "Volare". CD

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An unusual transcription disc, with a Basie performance from February 20, 1940! Titles include "Take It Prez", "Darn That Dream", "Ebony Rhapsody", "Baby Don't You Tell On Me", and "I Got Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

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Essential is right – as the tracks here are all Vocalion and Columbia 78rpm releases – from a time when Lester Young was in the group on tenor, and Buck Clayton on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

Basie hits the hits of the 50s and early 60s – working here with some tight Billy Byers arrangements that really help transform the tunes! The groove is upbeat, bright, and brilliantly soulful – that punctuated Basie groove first formed when Neal Hefti was with the group, still carried off here wonderfully by a lineup that includes Frank Wess and Frank Foster on saxes, Snooky Young and Al Aarons on trumpets, Benny Powell and Henry Coker on trombones, and Freddie Green on guitar. Titles include "The Second Time Around", "Hey Jealous Lover", "All Of Me", "This Love Of Mine", "Saturday Night", "Come Fly With Me", and "South Of The Border" – almost a Sinatra album in spirit, given the choice of tunes like these! Includes bonus tracks too. CD

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Count Basie and Quincy Jones were always a mighty mighty combination – and there's no finer proof of that fact than this sweet little set! Quincy had a way of swinging Basie's group even more than Neal Hefti did – really letting the piano step out front, and swinging the larger horn parts in this mode that was extremely soulful, yet never with the hoke that could sometimes mar a Basie set – a style that was very 60s groovy, and which really helped breathe new life into the Count's ensemble! The album's a killer all the way through – and the tunes are all originals – written by Quincy, and arranged especially for the set – great little numbers that include "Nasty Magus", "Dum Dum", "Boody Rumble", "Count Em", "Belly Roll", and "Lil Ol Groovemaker Basie"! CD

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Count Basie cooks things up nicely here – really taking off in a live setting with that renewed energy that made his work of the 50s some of his best! The group here is large, but can swing with effortless ease, and stop and turn on a dime – tremendous accomplishments from a lineup that features Thad Jones and Joe Newman on trumpets, Henry Coker and Benny Powell on trombones, and Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Marshal Royal, and Bill Graham on reeds – all driven strongly by Basie's piano, the guitar of Freddie Green, bass of Eddie Jones, and thunderous drums of Sonny Payne! Joe Williams sings on a handful of tracks – and titles include "The Comeback", "Teach Me Tonight", "Alright Ok You Win", "Dinner With Friends", "Plymouth Rock", and "Smack Dab In The Middle". CD

An excellent gimmick – and yet another way that United Artists was trying to push its "Bond" catalog in the 60s! Count Basie brings a soulful swing to the work of John Barry – hitting hard on the tracks with his own smoking piano, and an orchestra filled with some of his best players, like Al Grey, Eric Dixon, and Freddie Green – as well as Eddie Lockjaw Davis, an artist who wasn't credited on the session at he time. Arrangements are by Chico O'Farrill and George Williams – and titles include "Thunderball", "From Russia With Love", "007", "Girl Trouble", and "Goldfinger". CD

A late 60s swinger from The Mills Brothers – with the aging vocal group get some great assistance from the Count Basie Orchestra! By the time of this sessions, The Mills Brothers had been recording for at least 4 decades – and although their early hits had gained the group a great deal of fame, their career as a whole was fading considerably in the 60s. Enter Basie, whose group was still very much at the top of its form in the decade – thanks to a great ear for transforming older tunes into fresher takes, and newer tunes into more swinging jazz-based vehicles. Working here with arranger Dick Hyman, the Basie group gives the Mills Brothers a soaring, bouncing kind of support – one that takes their vocals, tightens them up, and really sends the tunes home with a nice sort of zing! Old and new numbers come off great in the setting – and titles include "Release Me", "I Want To Be Happy", "Down Down Down", "I Dig Rock & Roll Music", "Let Me Dream", "April In Paris", "I May Be Wrong But I Think You're Wonderful", and "Tiny Bubbles". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual pairing, and recorded with a small group too – and Basie plays a bit of organ! CD

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Titles include "Strike Up The Band", "Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans", "Poor Little Rich Girl", "Are You Havin Any Fun", "Anyting Goes", and "With Plenty Of Money". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more obscure albums by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross – a session of Basie tunes, performed with backing by the Count, plus additional lead vocals by Joe Williams, the voice most closely associated with the Basie group at the time! The style is similar to the trio's Sing A Song Of Basie album for ABC, but handled here with a bit more of an edge, and a rougher, more freewheeling groove that's a better fit for the great Basie sound of the late 50s – a great adaptation of the groove by Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, and Annie Ross! The record's a nice sometimes-overlooked chapter in the excellent Count Basie run on Roulette – and titles include "Every Tub", "Rusty Dusty Blues", "The King", "Shorty George", and "Let Me See". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more obscure albums by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross – a session of Basie tunes, performed with backing by the Count, plus additional lead vocals by Joe Williams, the voice most closely associated with the Basie group at the time! The style is similar to the trio's Sing A Song Of Basie album for ABC, but handled here with a bit more of an edge, and a rougher, more freewheeling groove that's a better fit for the great Basie sound of the late 50s – a great adaptation of the groove by Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, and Annie Ross! The record's a nice sometimes-overlooked chapter in the excellent Count Basie run on Roulette – and titles include "Every Tub", "Rusty Dusty Blues", "The King", "Shorty George", and "Let Me See".oss! Titles include "Every Tub", "Rusty Dusty Blues", "The King", "Shorty George", and "Let Me See". CD

The title's a bit of a joke – because the record features a batch sidemen from the Count Basie band – Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Freddy Green, Billy Mitchell, Frank Foster, and others – all working with Sarah, but the Count's name is missing, due to contractual obligations! Despite that lack, though, the grooves are very much in the best Basie mode – full of soul and searing horn lines – at a level that makes the album one of Sarah's liveliest from the time! Players include Thad Jones and Joe Newman on trumpet, Al Grey on trombone, Frank Foster and Frank Wess on tenor, and Freddie Green on guitar – and Ronnell Bright handles the piano, instead of Basie. Titles include "Darn That Dream", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Doodlin", "Just One Of Those Things", "No Count Blues", and "Missing You". LP, Vinyl record album

George Benson more than earns the title on this one – given that most of the tracks feature backings from the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster – a great ensemble who really help keep things soulful throughout! Despite the date of the set, the feel here is a bit more classic than most of Benson's work from the time – as the group bring a full acoustic soul to the record – a swelling, swaying brace of horns that seems to push George's vocals a bit more than usual – past that simply sweet style that was the usual Benson bag. There's a range and depth here that's really surprising – a quality that goes past the hokey title, which might make you expect less from the record – and although there's a few brief moments that get slightly contemporary, these pass quickly in favor of a classic groove. Titles include "On Green Dolphin Street", "Without A Song", "Ready Now That You Are", "Basie's Bag", "Skylark", and "How Do You Keep The Music Playing". CD

Stormin! Tenorist Frank Foster is best known to the world for his years and years of work with Count Basie, but take it from us: his solo albums from the late 60's are waaaay better than his Basie work, and they're also some of our fave jazz sides of all time! This rare album features Foster with a groovy group that includes Virgil Jones on trumpet, Pat Rebillot on piano, Billy Butler on guitar, and the great Alan Dawson on drums and congas. The tracks are all nice and long, and they have a sinister dirty funky groove! Titles include "Skankaroony", "Show The Good Side", "While The City Sleeps", and "Chiquito Loco". LP, Vinyl record album

Features a few Carnegie Hall appearances, one with Count Basie and Lester Young – and TV work on The Tonight Show and The Comeback Story! LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure 50s 10" session from Joe Newman – but a great one too, and a record that really has him swinging nicely with other members of the Count Basie group! There's a great small combo feel to the set – and alongside Newman's work on trumpet, the date also features Frank Foster and Frank Wess on tenor, Freddie Green on guitar, and Henry Coker on trombone – plus the mysterious "Bill Bailey" on piano and organ, who may well be Basie himself! The feel is a bit like some of the Verve sessions of the time, but nicely a bit more rough-edged at times – and titles include "Confessin", "Ingin The Ooh", "These Foolish Things", "Peter Pan", and "In Case You Didn't Know". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful little record from Frances Wayne – thanks to some great arrangements from Neal Hefti! Hefti's approach here is just perfect – not as over the top as his work with Count Basie, but with the right blend of sophistication and soulfulness to make Wayne sound great – really coming across with a lot more depth than we remember from other albums. Frances' vocals are slightly breathy at times, but never too much so – and she's got a slightly snakey quality that slides out nicely amidst small combo instrumentation from Al Cohn on tenor, Hank Jones on piano, Billy Mure on guitar, and Jerome Richardson on flute. Titles include "In Other Words", "Early Autumn", "Round Midnight", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Blue & Sentimental", "Soft Winds", and "Oh What A Night For Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Fetures work by the bands of Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Harry James! CD

An all-star tribute to Ella Fitzgerald – a special show recorded live at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, in celebration of what would have been her 100th Birthday! The whole event is hosted by David Allen Grier, and begins with a vintage 1934 Apollo Amateur Night radio broadcast – before going into a host of Ella favorites, done by others – mostly with backing by the Count Basie Orchestra! Patti Austin sings "A Tisket A Tasket" and "When I Get Low I Get High", Andra Day sings "Ain't Misbehavin", Ayo & Afro Blue perform "Oh Lady Be Good", Lizz Wright sings "Love You Madly" and "The Nearness Of You", Cassandra Wilson sings "Cry Me A River", and a few other numbers feature different pairings of the artists involved. CD

A fantastic double-dip into the mighty catalog of Flying Dutchman Records – one of the hippest early 70s imprints in the worlds of jazz, soul, and funk! The blend of music here is great – as the collection features some key cuts by the bigger names on the label, plus some overlooked gems that really get at the all-great spirit of their recordings – pulled together with a vibe that matches the upbeat, positive spirit of the many other entries in the Free Soul series from Japan! There's plenty of vocal cuts on the collection, but some instrumentals too – and the 2CD package features 39 tracks in all, over 160 minutes of music – with titles that include "Money Honey" by Esther Marrow, "Love Each Other" by Leon Thomas, "Soulful Strut" by Steve Allen, "Heavy Soul Slinger" by Bernard Purdie, "When You Are Who You Are" by Gil Scott-Heron, "Bridges" by Cesar 830, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" by Louis Armstrong, "A Chance For Peace" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Head Start" by Bob Thiele Emergency, "Tite Rope" by Harold Alexander, "Nicole" by The Cyrkle, "From This Moment On" by Shelly Manne, "He Don't Appreciate It" by Esther Marrow, "Mama Soul" by Harold Alexander, "Just In Time To See The Sun" by Leon Thomas, "This Is The Me Me" by Richard Groove Holmes, "I Think I'll Call It Morning" by Gil Scott-Heron, "El Arriero" by Gato Barbieri, "Footprints" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Gypsy Queen" by Count Basie, and "See Saw Affair" by Cesar 830. CD

A mighty sweet collection of grooves from the Flying Dutchman label – that early 70s hotbed of funk, soul, and spiritual jazz! The set features some of the best-remembered gems from the label – plus some nice surprises along the way – all spread out in a double-length set, with selections by Japanese DJ Daisuke Kuroda! There's some great interplay between vocal numbers and instrumentals – and Kuroda definitely picked some of the heaviest-hitting artists of the label, a number of whom appear here more than once. Titles include "Shape Your Mind To Die" and "Love Each Other" by Leon Thomas, "Beautiful Woman" and "A Chance For Peace" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Gypsy Queen" by Count Basie, "When You Are Who You Are" and "The Needle's Eye" by Gil Scott Heron, "This Is The Me Me" and "Onsaya Joy" by Richard Groove Holmes, "Peace" and "Chains" by Black & Blues, "Nicole" by The Cyrkle, "Skull Session" by Oliver Nelson, "Friends & Neighbors" by Ornette Coleman, "Tite Rope" by Harold Alexander, "Heavy Soul Slinger" by Bernard Purdie, "Descarga" and "See Saw Affair" by Cesar 830, "Lady Day & John Coltrane" and "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" by Gil Scott Heron, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" and "Just In Time To See The Sun" by Leon Thomas, "Chains Of Love" by Esther Marrow, and "Mama Soul" by Harold Alexander. CD

The Readymade crew turn their talents to a host of tracks from the legendary Brunswick Records – serving up a really joyous mix of Chicago soul that definitely lives up to the best side of their sound! Brunswick soul is usually a lot more upbeat and positive than that of some of their contemporaries – filled with pride and power that really comes through in the grooves chosen for this excellent set – a mix of vocal and instrumental cuts that really remind us why we love Windy City soul from this time so much! Titles include "Where Would I Go" by Ginji James, "California Montage" by Young Holt Unlimited, "Stop Look & Listen To Your Heart" by Barbara Acklin, "Whispers" by Erma Franklin, "Sunny" by Young Holt Trio, "Love The One You're With" by Herman, "Girl I Need You" by The Artistics, "I Had It All The Time" by Tyrone Davis, "This Love Is Real" by Jackie Wilson, "Uptight" by Count Basie & Jackie Wilson, and "Sugar Sugar" by Willie Henderson. CD

One of the most unique packages we've ever seen from the mighty Mosaic Records – not a set that focuses on a specific artist or record label – but instead a treasure trove of freshly-unearthed material from the archives of Bill Savory – a legendary sound engineer whose work for Columbia Records helped transform our understanding of classic jazz! The sides here aren't Bill's work for that label – but instead feature recordings he made of rare broadcast performances – material that's surprisingly well-recorded, given Savory's skills with the technology of the times – which means that these tracks are way more than the kind of fuzzy radio tapes that used to show up on older jazz bootleg albums. Mosaic did a great job of restoring these materials, and presenting them with wonderful clarity – in a succession of late 30s performances that feature rare work by Count Basie, Albert Ammons, Mildred Bailey, Teddy Wilson, Glenn Miller, John Kirby, Carl Cress, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, Jack Teagarden, and other giants of the swing generation. There's 108 tracks in all – including a few surprisingly long performances – and the whole thing comes with the usual hefty Mosaic Records package of notes and photos! CD

Tight trio material from the legendary Richard Groove Holmes – caught live at Count Basie's Nightclub in Harlem, working hard and heavy with a trio that features Gene Edwards on guitar and George Randall on drums! This live set is the kind of record that beautifully shows why Groove was so popular with live audiences in the 60s – because he can burn all night long, with no tricks, no gimmicks, just a straight-on soul jazz groove and some amazing work on the Hammond! Most cuts are pretty long – and there's some great groovers on here like Gerald Wilson's "Blues For Yna Yna", a cover of "Girl From Ipanema", Jimmy Heath's "Gemini", and Groove's own "Living Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

A Basie tribute, but a really smoking one – thanks to some hard swinging arrangements from Manny Albam, and plenty of heavy Hammond from the great Jimmy McGriff! The tracks are mostly numbers from the Count Basie songbook of the 50s and 60s, but they're strongly reworked here with a swinging 60s vibe – played with lots of strong horn work in the background, all used as a perfect foil for Jimmy's leaner organ solos over the top! The style's quite similar to other big band organ work of the time – particularly records made by Jimmy Smith in collaboration with Oliver Nelson, or Jack McDuff with Benny Golson – and McGriff's organ comes through nice and clean in the mix, with that sharply fluttering sound that really made him one of the true standouts of the 60s. Titles include "Hob Nail Boogie", "Cute", "Every Day", "Blues Go Away", and "Slow But Sure". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swinging jazz featuring drummer Specs Powell – and a tight batch of Basie-esque players, grooving along on a number of short lively tracks that are almost in the Count Basie style of the Roulette years! The lineup features alto and baritone sax from Sahib Shihab, tenor and clarinet from Aaron Sachss, alto and flute from George Dorsey, trumpet from Ray Copeland and Leon Merian, and trombones from Jimmy Dahl and Jimmy Cleveland – and piano is handled by Hank Jones and Nat Pierce, the latter of whom really knows how to make a group like this swing nicely! The set includes some very fresh originals by Pierce – including "Spyder Blues", "Rat Race", "Movin In", "Suspicion", and "Dispossessed" – plus versions of "You Don't Know What Love Is", "He's My Guy", and "I'll Remember April". CD

Features Ella Fitzgerald on vocal performances of "April In Paris", "Party Blues", and "Every Day I Have The Blues" – with Count Basie backing. Also features a jam session version of "Billie's Bounce" – with Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, Tal Farlow, Zoot Sims, and others – and a solo piano take on "Lady Fair" by George Wallington. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare solo work from Keely Smith – a set that has her singing with the Count Basie orchestra – on titles that include "My Heart Cries For You", "Fly Me To The Moon", "Make The Man Love Me", "I Could Write A Book", and "Young At Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

A spectacular run of music from the great Jackie Wilson – a 3CD set that features 60 tracks in all – with a heavy dose of both of Jackie's chapters in soul music for the Brunswick label! Wilson started out recording for Brunswick in New York – where he brought a new level of power to the pre-soul years, learned from his roots in R&B – but fused into a more sophisticated style that had a huge impact on many others to rise in soul during the 60s! Then, during the middle of that decade, he moved over to work in Chicago – where help from Carl Davis and other key Brunswick talents gave Wilson's magnificent vocals a whole new groove – and a way to keep on going strongly all the way to the 70s. This great set documents all those years, and is overflowing with great cuts – titles that include "3 Days 1 Hour 30 Minutes", "Soul Galore", "New Girl In Town", "You Left The Fire Burning", "I Can Feel Those Vibrations This Love Is Real", "Just Be Sincere", "Love Uprising", "Whatcha Gonna Do About Love", "You Brought About A Change In Me", "Just Call My Name", "To Make A Big Man Cry", "No Pity In The Naked City", "I Get The Sweetest Feeling", "Reet Petite", "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher & Higher", "The New Breed", "Light My Fire", "The Tear Of The Year", "Talk That Talk", and "Doggin Around". Also includes duet material – "Shake A Hand" and "I Found Love" with Linda Hopkins, "Chain Gang" and "Uptight" with Count Basie, and "Don't Burn No Bridges" with The Chi-Lites. CD