One O'Clock Jump Count Basie Artist

{|One O'Clock Jump: The Very Best of Count Basie|} is an excellent compilation made of 14 tunes recorded between 1936 and 1942, an interesting choice when one considers that the years of these performances begin with the historic recording of {|Oh, Lady Be Good|} issued in 1936 in the midst of the Depression and extend through to the title cut, which was recorded as America was enmeshed in WWII. Despite the country's problems, the swingin' {|blues|} of {|Basie|} lived on. These tunes represent an unusually creative and inspired period for the bandleader, who held nothing but aces in his personnel. {|Lester Young|} was making a name for himself during these years and got his nickname {|Pres|} from the {|Basie|} period. Other notables were bassist {|Walter Page|}, drummer {|Jo Jones|}, trombonist {|Dicky Wells|}, and trumpeter {|Buck Clayton|}, just to name a few. The great guitarist {|Freddie Green|} was a {|Basie|} regular, as were {|Sweets Edison|} and {|Buddy Tate|}. Singer {|Jimmy Rushing|} appeared with the {|Basie|} band and reinvented the role of the vocalist in {|big bands|} with his expressive and mighty {|blues|} roar as heard on {|Goin' to Chicago Blues.|} This was dance music created to be accessible to audiences, but {|Basie|} could also swing the {|blues|} hard -- check the live version of {|Moten Swing,|} {|Lester Leaps In,|} {|Miss Thing, Pt. 1|} and {|Pt. 2.,|} and even the edited version of {|Jumpin' at the Woodside|} that closes the set. This is hard and tough roots music with plenty of soul, grit, and sweat, as well as artistic prowess in the solos and arrangements. {|John Hammond|} himself produced the vast majority of these cuts, and {|Skippy Martin|} arranged them. {|Basie|} was a bandleader of killer instinct and an ear for both his musicians' strengths and his audience's fickle heart. This is an excellent collection for anyone interested in checking out why {|Basie|} remains one of the giants. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek