Count Basie Zürich 1959: Basie Boogie/Lil' Darlin'

The Count Basie Orchestra at Kongresshaus Zurich, Switzerland, February 6, 1959. With Wendell Culley, Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Joe Newman (tp); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb); Marshal Royal (as,cl); Frank Wess (as,ts,fl); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (ts); Charlie Fowlkes (bar); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); Eddie Jones (b); Sonny Payne (dr).
Basie Boogie
Lil' Darlin'
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[@peterfeltham5612]

I am now 76yrs of age retired London policeman for 60 of those i have listened to Mr Basie's music.I have always been of the opinion that his 1960 recording of Benny Carters Kansas City Suite to be the finest he made,it's simply perfection,mention must also be made of the wonderful work of the studio sound engineers at that session,it's as though the band are with you in your living room.With our modern CDs,Digital technology,MP3s etc,the quality of the original Columbia recording remains unsurpassed.Musically it has been my best friend for over half a century.I will not single out any single player for praise,it's just that it all came together in that studio on that day and resulted in a work of art that will outlive any of us.

[@WPM_in_ATL]

Thanks for the tip, Constable. It was released in the USA on Roulette, which was Basie's "home" label at the time. They would have used a contract studio in Los Angeles-perhaps (EMI Owned) Capitol, maybe Radio Recorders. I will have to look into this more. In the UK, Roulette may very well have been released on EMI-Columbia (not related to the CBS-Columbia in the US). Roulette has its own fascinating history.

[@user-gn1dp5pd5s]

What an Honor it was for me to know the Great Count Basie and his Orchestra. This trumpet solo rendition of Lil Darlin was performed by my Great Uncle Wendell. May they rest in Peace in Jazz Heaven.

[@GeneTrujillo]

Too cool! RIP to them both.

[@DavidWJones-bd3md]

Wow! You're the great nephew of Wendell Cully? What a great musician.Just look at the crown he played with: Thad Jones, Snooky Young(when he wasn't playing with "Doc" on the Johnny Carson Show). Al Grey(the master of the toilet-plunger mute trombone) was a dear friend of mine. Anyway...nice to meet you.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Greatest swing rhythm section ever: Basie, Jones, Green, Payne. IMO.

[@johnhunter4686]

The greatest, bar none

[@s.pearson6887]

Count was an absolute boss on the keys, & underrated because his band was so damn good.

[@jackstanton8212]

I saw this actual band countless times in 1957 /8 /9 /60 in the UK-- they were always magnificent

[@SELMER1947]

For those who forgot it, Basie was also one of the greatest jazz pianist ever

[@taniadolphy5122]

This song is absolutely magic for me 💗. I can listen to it multiple times a day.

[@anthonyfoster6419]

Are you related to Eric?

[@vova47]

Boy, Basie could play the piano when he wanted to!!! And what a band! Thanks for sharing!

[@nicmart]

Man, that's good. You don't often get to hear Freddie Green so clearly.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Nicolas Martin yeah too bad the camera missed it all

[@debrathompson4319]

Nicolasd clearly!!LL Martin cou t Basie let all his side men get heard clearly!!!LL❤️

[@TonyfromBham]

That’s exactly right. If you want to hear Freddie clearly and loudly, check him out in a 30 minute TV performance called Jazz Casual. It’s a four-piece thing.

[@kathrynlivermore5343]

Creative and amazing. Outstanding and artistic in playing the piano. Bravo!!!

[@davidmiller3652]

This is a fabulous post. Oddly growing up never head The Count cutloose like this on piano.

[@vancouverterry9142]

Ah, the Count, the Count . . . the great master who could make one note swing, and who is, and ever will be, reverently thanked by all the swing masters who follow him. RIP, Count and enjoy the rewards for all you gave us.

[@michaelscott7462]

Giants in the prime of their life. We shall never again witness such artisry and effortless elegance.

[@michaelquillen2679]

Greatest swing big band!

[@johnastrup1549]

World greatest big band COUNT BASIE ✊🎹

[@ALFREDBECHARD-s3s]

Love Basie! That band was loaded with phenomenal talent! What a thrill hearing them.

[@ramses83]

I heard this Basie's concert the day before in Geneva, Febuary 5, 1959 and have yet the program, with Joe Newman, Frank Wess and Sonny Payne signatures ! It was following "Atomic Mr Basie" 33rpm (I have it too !) Great souvenirs !!

[@2300skiddoo]

This really is especially excellent Basie. Great version of his feature and a wonderful balance on the very measured performance of "Darlin'" - you can hear every chord Freddy strums. Thanks for sharing!

[@MrShobar]

Lil' Darlin' composed by Neal Hefti in 1957. An excellent example of swing at a slow tempo.

[@stefanoangeloni8855]

this is pure music...

[@PumilateVFX]

the vibrato on the trumpet solo amazing

[@basie802]

Everyone remembers Count Basie as a great conductor of orchestra. But few remember that Count Basie was a monstrous pianist like Art Tatum. He had independent fingers like Bach and a sound power like Beethoven

[@nurimajeed8595]

Basie plays the hell outta piano....gifted!!!

[@drno125]

This is the band of bands...never ever again to be equaled...

[@gynack]

Dr. No I saw the Basie band twice in the 60's in London. Joe Williams with him on vocals, and the second time Jimmy Rushing was the vocalist. I was a little disappointed. They were good but I felt they never really took off, perhaps getting a bit worn out from a long tour, I don't know. Except the second half of the second concert. After a rather pedestrian purely instrumental first half, Jimmy Rushing came on, and the transformation was unbelievable. He galvanised them somehow, and then they really started swinging behind him. The best concerts I saw were by Duke Ellington. The arrangements were great, and so were the soloists, and so well integrated in the arrangements. And don't ever underestimate how Ellington's bands could swing. They were at least the equal of any band in that alone. I think, in fact, on the right numbers Ellington could swing better than any other band. Whatever, this is a great posting. I'm just going on about Ellington because you said this was the best band ever, and I maintain Ellington is even better. It doesna stop me enjoying this immensely though.

[@michaelhorton1350]

Trevor Morris Jimmy Rushing was also the most senior of the Moten/Blue Devil members that gathered after the Moten break-up to become Count Basie Orchestra. Basie was voted as leader but Rushing was a force. When the band opened at Apolllo and everyone, including Basie, was full of stage butterflies, Rushing (Mr. Five by Five) did what you describe so well. Jimmy ‘galvanized’ the crowd and lit a fire under the band. Photos of the event show Rushing beaming and striding across stage as if he owned it. He was too big for Basie band and sought greener pastures. Basie’s take on Moten Swing is a thing of beauty. Easy to see why Bennie hired a SECOND piano for the band.

[@gynack]

@@michaelhorton1350 Thanks for that. I don't know much about those days although I did know Basie had been with Moten in Kansas City, there was a connection with the Blue Devils, and in effect he took over the band after Moten's death. I can picture in my mind that Apollo opening, and Rushing shaking up the whole band. I've a huge admiration for Rushing, and it's sad to see that he doesna seem nearly as well known nowadays as he ought to be. He was a dynamic singer, and far more than just a Blues shouter.

[@axeman2638]

For me it's the rhythmic tightness and spot on intonation of the horns that makes this so great.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Damn Freddie Green takes a solo at 1:13 and the camera doesn’t capture it lol

[@REDNOVA1]

This is the Basie band.

[@ghairraigh]

- "Basie Boogie" Basie plays a sprightly solo and Freddie Green drives the rhythm section, with his guitar over-mixed by the TV guys.. - Lil' Darlin' (Neal Hefti) features Wendell Culley playing his famous solo. Wendell retired from music later that year.

[@johnastrup1549]

The world greatest rhythm group.

[@miguelleiton3645]

Con un simple toque de piano generaba musica y belleza, cualidad de unos pocos.........

[@sablobsimus]

Lil' Darlin' is soo good. I love the Tonight Show band playing it so so slowly

[@papaessilfie3478]

Basie was a really good pianist. His skills as a bandleader were obviously legendary but I think his piano skills are often underrated, The man's timing was simply unavailable. He and Freddie Green are the reason why that rhythm section was ( and in my opinion is still) the best ever!

[@billyvee]

Freddie Green is like a freakin' metronome!

[@axeman2638]

A metronome don't swing like that.

[@jefflatten9321]

@@axeman2638 I think you missed Billy's point.

[@axeman2638]

@@jefflatten9321 "i think you", well there's your problem right there.

[@nicebellbo]

Freddie Green Swing We Swing

[@Joann1athena]

Awesome! Thanks for the video!

[@MorningCarnival]

A good clear example of Freddie Greens playing. They sound like single note chords to me?

[@WPM_in_ATL]

I observe William is playing a Bosendorfer. A very fitting piano for the absolute finest jazz pianist of the 20th Century. I just wish he showed off those amazing piano chops more.

[@ghairraigh]

NOTES from Crown Propellers Blog - crownpropeller.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/count-basie-in-zurich-1959/ Count Basie in Zurich 1959 As in 1956, the Count Basie Orchestra also visited Switzerland in 1959. The concert they gave at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on February 6 was filmed - probably for the swiss television company. In Otto Flückiger’s archives I found a VHS tape with the TV broadcast from the Kongresshaus. Since I noticed that “The Midget” from this concert already can be found on youtube, I decided to offer you something else. So here you have the opening part of the TV broadcast. The orchestra starts with Basie Boogie, and after that they play Neal Hefti’s Lil’ Darlin’. The latter is especially remarkable because it offers the rare opportunity to hear as well as see a solo by Wendell Culley (1906-1983), as Basie usually gave most of the trumpet solos to Joe Newman or Thad Jones. The personnel on this date: Wendell Culley, Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Joe Newman (tp); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb); Marshal Royal (as,cl); Frank Wess (as,ts,fl); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (ts); Charlie Fowlkes (bar); Count Basie (p, ldr); Freddie Green (g); Eddie Jones (b); Sonny Payne (dr).

[@amindworksstudio]

Tasty!

[@anthonyfoster6419]

I don't know if you'll see this or not but as the oldest son of one of the band members here ( Frank Foster ) im wondering if there is a way I might be able to get a copy of the full recording? I was almost 2 years old when this was done. I would dearly treasure a tape or dvd of it?

[@mrjohnstgeorge]

Powered by Sonny Payne.....

[@Soulman785]

The "Count" and his Orchestra.

[@GillCaballeroManofwar]

This a beautiful piece of work!!

[@Soulman785]

Gill Caballero i agree!

[@GillCaballeroManofwar]

The Big band was such a full sound of musical power with the horn section going off with all the harmony of each instrument.

[@samadjhi]

Adrian folks all over the world knew that Basie could play.I think what you meant is you didn't know Basie could play like that.

[@samadjhi]

I agree with you Adrian. There exist less who have studied the evolution of jazz than those who are casual listeners.Understanding the lineage and progression from the cotton fields to the present obviously suggest that Basie had to be proficient in stride and Boggie Woggie relative to his jazz genealogy and age to reach the level of excellence that we both appreciate.

[@gynack]

John Daley There's an interesting clip of Jimmy Rushing being interviewed by Ralph Gleason, a jazz critic and enthusiast if my memory serves me right. Gleason asks Rushing about Basie and the Blues in Kansas city in the 20's. Rushing gives a wee laugh and says that Basie couldna play Blues at that time. You would probably find it interesting. Don't be put off by the opening humming. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYqsZJmLgLONqMU

[@mehermusic2154]

It doesn't get any Hipper than this

[@arame29]

SONNY payne?

[@rapulainen]

I hate Grammerly