js
This is a wonderful set of songs recorded in the late 30s when Basie was still on the Decca label. Although the style on here is decidedly the new swing style of the day, there are still a lot of remnants from the early New Orleans era that give this music a very warm and charming flavor. The horns have that bright and focused sound that goes back to the earliest days of jazz and the arrangements are mostly improvised, a tradition in jazz from the beginning. In a short year or two Basie will switch to written arrangements and some of that old school free spirit will leave.
Following these recordings, Basie will switch to the Capital label where his music will first become a little more aggressive and back-beat oriented, and then later lean more towards an elegant swing style. These Decca recordings represent some of the last of jazz’s more endearing improvisational and light-hearted emotional qualities. As usual, the famous Basie rhythm section is in full effect. They back-up Basie’s classic stride piano style by doubling the foundation of his rhythms and voicings and then pushing the beat like crazy. Although he is not credited, I'm sure thats the incredible Jimmy Rushing who provides his powerful voice to a couple old school blues numbers. This is a fun record from start to finish with no duds.