Get it before it vanishes.
jazzbo | 07/09/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Now that the entire Fantasy catalog has gone to Concord Jazz, this treasury of Basie's last decade has gone out of print and prices have dropped. This set is a very attractive alternative to buying 20-30 Pablo albums. Disc 1 features live performances with a variety of groups; Disc 2 focuses on small-group all-star sessions; Disc 3 collects big band performances, and Disc 4 shows Basie accompanying many of the vocalists who shared the Pablo label at the time. While there is nothing musically novel in this set, the remastering throughout is superb. If you have already collected the early Decca and Columbia sides and the "new testament" band sides on Verve and Roulette, this should be next on your list.
"