Search - Count Basie :: Jam: Montreux 77

Swingin Live Basie

Christian Justin Shearn | Vestal, NY USA | 07/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Producer Norman Granz commonly liked to showcase his artists for the Pablo label in jam session settings, producing fun results. This Count Basie jam session recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1977 is brimming with good times, featuring ex bandmates like Vic Dickenson and Al Grey on trombones, the fiery Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto sax, and Zoot Sims on tenor. The band gets loose on "Bookie Blues", featuring all six soloists and Basie being greatly encouraged in his sparse but excellent stride piano solo. There are a few ballad features for selected hornmen, and a suprise vocal by Roy Eldridge on a roaring "Kidney Stew". Perhaps the best performance on the album is "Trio Blues", with the Count being backed only by the rhythm section of Ray Brown, and drummer Jimmie Smith(no relation to organist). Basie spins a magnificent solo that prompts Benny Carter at the end of the tune to enthusiastically repeat "We Can't Follow That Bill! ". Well, the band indeed rose to the challenge by closing a fantastic set with the Basie anthem "Jumpin At The Woodside". Overall, "Count Basie Jam: Montreux '77" is a very well conceived jam session and a glowing lesser known gem in the late period Basie catalog."

Bonhomie...but a bit forced

jive rhapsodist | NYC, NY United States | 01/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What is great IS great here...but the long Blues and I Got Rhythm jams don't rock MY world. It is heartening to know that Swing Jazz could still be played this authentically as late as '77. But there are tired moments. Right now I'm listening to Vic Dickenson being cruelly goosed by drummer Smith's relentless woodchopping...and then there are these joyless riffs that don't do what ensemble riffing is supposed to do - propel! Basie sounds amazing - vivid and alive. A great rhythm section pianist. Ray Brown's switching to pedal point at the beginning of Roy Eldridge's solo on Bookie Blues (not a Blues, by the way) is a stunning moment. but then Roy tries to play the sax chorus from Ellington's Cottontail - Roy, it ain't 1944! It's pretty approximate...

I bought this CD for These Foolish Things. Benny Carter is great here, but what I love the most is Basie's comping. Nothing much to it. He plays chord after chord, just laying them down, making this ballad into a virtual blues (one of his trademarks). No embellishments, no substitutions...it's so cool."

Just a really fun album!

James William White | Boise, ID USA | 12/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This relatively unknown title is a truelly a great JAM session. Pick this one up and enjoy some Basie in a trully unique/relaxed setting. This CD swings so hard you will not be able to sit still when listening to it. I've had this CD for several years now and still enjoy it immensely each time I listen to it. ...seems to be one of 12-20 jazz CDs that ALWAYS gets packed up when going on a trip"