Search - Joe Williams :: Night at Count Basie's

Major disappointment

Original Mixed Up-Kid | 06/08/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD with extreme anticipation. After all, I am a huge Basie fan, and a huge Joe Williams fan, both with and without Basie. With that being said, BUYER BEWARE: this is not your typical Joe Williams CD. Joe is minimally featured on the album, which is comprised mostly of not "swinging" but sloppy and squeaky instrumentals. The organ playing is especially atrocious, forcing the listener to plead for Jimmy Smith or Shirley Scott to come into the bar and take a seat on the stand.Not surprisingly, Joe does not let us entirely down, though, coming through with a great blues medley. Unfortunately, this one highlight is not worth the price of admission for this CD. Additionally, the quality of the recording, at Count Basie's Harlem nightclub, is remarkably poor. Engineer extraordinaire Rudy Van Gelder has shown us quite often that a recording in a nightclub setting does not have to suffer from sub-par sound. This CD, however, unfortunately does.I don't know, perhaps I'm being overly harsh. I just know that this Joe Williams CD rarely ever sees the laser on my CD player. There is much better Joe Williams product out there. Only compleatists should acquire this one."

A Unique Authentic Jazz Blues Recording..Even The Critics Ag

Original Mixed Up-Kid | New York United States | 08/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If one's taste runs into buying a couple of CD's a year looking for sonic brilliance then don't buy this CD for obvious reasons..This is a wonderful CD recorded in a bar in Harlem 1n 1956..But the chances are that you are a music afficando if you are reading a review of a Joe Williams CD recorded live and probably dig Count Basie the man and musician because you see his name attached to the CD..Basie does not play here but introduces the band and is the MC,horsing around,having a good time because this music is a good time..Tight playing in this loose ambience, a bar of all places ...fronted by Joe Williams,one of the nicest purest voices associated with swing,jazz and blues, these musicians go through 47 minutes of music, glasses clinking,shouts all in all in a good recording all things considered.

Besides Joe, we have a 6 piece band playing great...I am certain Jazz fans don't need no convincing on this..Ask Leonard Feather and John Hammond..."