Joe Williams with Count Basie and His Orchestra Everyday I Have the Blues Roulette 1959

Joe Williams with Count Basie and His Orchestra Everyday I Have the Blues Roulette 1959 CAT# R52033

I love these Basie/Williams albums.  Mostly because for the rest of his life, Joe Williams spoke so highly of Count Basie.  One of his early solo albums, he's quoted gloating about his work with Basie, then later performances, everywhere, always just gave huge thanks and credit to Count Basie.  He never forgot his roots.

This album is in all actuality considered a solo LP for Williams.  Joe Williams' popularity had reached it's peak.  Williams' popularity was also instrumental to Basie's continued success.  Basie's work on the album was a thank you to Williams for the years served as his band's singer.

Basie worked the arrangements with a smaller backing band than normal.  You still get the huge sound expected from Basie's standard and title track, "Everyday I Have the Blues."  However, after that, the album is laid back.  The swing style of "Going to Chicago" is a vocal workout for Williams with your basic club group from Basie.  The album flows like that for the most part, even a smoker like "Shake, Rattle and Roll" is toned down (but at a good clip, for sure).  It's a jazz vocal album that finds Williams showing off and Basie adding flourishes that don't normally appear on similar albums.

Everyday I Have the Blues

Count Basie & His Orchestra Kansas City Suite The Music of Benny Carter Roulette 1960

Count Basie & His Orchestra Kansas City Suite The Music of Benny Carter Roulette 1960 CAT# R52056

Love this LP and wish I didn't own a beat up later pressing on the Roulette Birdland Series, nice original would fit the bill, but, then again, there's a lot of records I want.

This LP was written by Benny Carter (not from Kansas City or a part of the scene, at least in the way Basie was) for Count Basie and his orchestra.  Carter named his tunes around clubs and areas in Basie's old stomping grounds, Basie gave it his KC swing, and they got a solid later day jazz album.

It's a solid outing and some featured soloist give the recordings an added flourish.  However, I just love it for all the Kansas City in it.  The skyline photo is great.  Song titles are fantastic: "Vine Street Rumble," "Miss Missouri," "Jackson County Jubilee," and the "Paseo Promenade" all still hold immediate relevance today.  The other tracks apparently are centered around KCMO as well, but would likely require more research.  I'm content with the obvious.

Vine Street Rumble

Count Basie Basie Plays Hefti Roulette 1958

Count Basie & His Orchestra Basie Plays Hefti Roulette 1958 CAT # SR-52011

Count Basie's Kansas City origins are a good story.  In 1927 he was performing as a pianist for a vaudeville style act.  The group broke up while touring in Kansas City and Basie was stranded.  His first job in KC was playing accompaniment to silent movies in a film house, however, his talent soon landed him jobs with local R&B and jazz artists, he eventually settled as a member of Bennie Moten's Swing band.  He played with Moten until his death in 1935, for a brief time, Basie played solo until forming and leading the Barons of Rhythm with many members of Moten's now defunct band.

His brand of swing is notable for it's commercial appeal.  As a bandleader from the 30's to 40's he was immensely popular. His band even appearing in numerous Hollywood movies during their peak.  He remained popular as a jazz musician even after the decline of big bands in the late 40's as a performer and leader of smaller troupe's.

Released in 1958, Basie Plays Hefti, marks a resurgence as the leader of a big band.  Arranger Neil Hefti had brought orchestration and large bands back into vogue with Basie.  Keep in mind, it's a very tame sound Hefti created and rooted in pop just as much as it is jazz, it doesn't "swing" much at all, but with Basie, it still has a soul.

Cute