Home               

SACD's

Standard CD's  

Artists

History  
       
Technology 

Links

To Order

2002 Grammy winner for large best jazz ensemble

Homage to Count Basie   SACD-12    CD-529

When one thinks of Count Basie, his orchestra, and the music his organization left us, several words come to mind.  Positive, uplifting, swinging, fun, spontaneous, and joyous are but a few.  His legacy has influenced not only big band music, but also all of jazz by way of the stellar musicians he kept and the great stable of arrangers who wrote for the band.  People like Lester Young, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico, Ernie Wilkins, and Neal Hefti have had such a huge influence on my musicianship.  I offer this homage to Count Basie, his music, and all the great artists who were spun off from his band. 

There are 5 tunes commonly associated with the Basie band on the disc.  In arranging these 5 songs I went and listened to as many recorded versions as I could find, and then picked up my pencil.  I stuck fairly close to what I had heard in writing the arrangements, trying only to make room for the wonderful players in the band, and to perhaps slightly “Mintzerize” the songs. 

The remaining 3 songs are original compositions.  Two of them are clearly in the Basie tradition (Havin’ Some Fun and Lester Jumps Out).  The third song is an idea that resulted from superimposing the Basie sensibility on an R and B groove: what might have happened if Sly Stone and the Count teamed up. 

I think this is one of the most fun recording experiences I have ever encountered, in great part due to the material, but also because of the great musicians in the band and the comfort ability factor from having worked with Tom Jung for the last 16 years.  I hope you feel some of the positive and uplifting energy we felt when you listen to the music.  Have some fun!                                                                

 Bob Mintzer

Havin' Some Fun  -  April in Paris -  One O'Clock Jump  -  Lester Jumps Out  

Cute  -   Shiny Stockings  -   Home Basie  -  Lil' Darlin'        

Saxophones:

Lawrence Feldman  & Pete Yellin (alto, clarinet & flute)

Scott Robinson & Bob Mintzer (tenor, clarinet & flute)

Roger Rosenberg (baritone)

Trumpets/Flugelhorns:

Bob Millikan, Byron Stripling, Scott Wendholt, Michael Phillip Mossman

Trombones:

Michael Davis, Keith O’Quinn, Larry Farrell, Dave Taylor (bass)

Piano:

Phil Markowitz

Bass:

Dennis Irwin

Guitar:

James Chirillo

Drums:

John Riley, Brian Brake

Homage to Count Basie was recorded live to DSD (Direct Stream Digital), the underlying  technology for SACD.  This hybrid disc can be played on any CD player, including stereo or multichannel SACD machines.  The multichannel program is 4 channel, left front, right front, left surround and right surround.  This recording does not use a center or LFE (.1) channel.