Count Basie – 88 Basie Street

Count Basie on two different scales

88 Basie Street was recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood on May 11 and 12, 1983. Norman Granz produced the sessions, with Allen Sides handling the recording. One of Basie’s later studio projects, the album brings together four big-band selections and two smaller-group performances featuring Joe Pass on guitar.

That change of scale gives the programme its own shape. Basie appears within expansive arrangements and then among fewer individual voices. The title points to the piano keyboard, and the pianist remains the connecting personality as the setting changes around him. Listening for those differences reveals more than treating all six selections as interchangeable examples of big-band music.

Sammy Nestico shapes the orchestral settings

Sammy Nestico wrote and arranged Bluesville, the title piece, The Blues Machine and Katy, and conducted the big-band recordings. His four compositions account for a substantial part of the programme. The album documents a specific collaboration between an established pianist and bandleader and an arranger familiar with the possibilities of this ensemble.

Attention can move between several levels: the horn sections, the piano, and the relationship between a solo voice and the larger arrangement. Cleveland Eaton on bass and Dennis Mackrel on drums participate throughout. The credits also make clear that the orchestral personnel do not remain unchanged across the entire album. Our track assignments distinguish the big-band titles from the smaller-group recordings rather than extending every credit to every selection.

Joe Pass joins the smaller group

Contractor’s Blues and Sunday At The Savoy are Basie compositions. Joe Pass joins these two performances, alongside a group that also includes horn players Bob Summers, Chris Woods and Kenny Hing. The smaller setting is therefore more than a piano-and-guitar duet. Its particular distribution of instruments helps give these tracks their place within the album.

At more than twelve minutes, Sunday At The Savoy provides the extended closing performance. After the larger arrangements, it offers another setting in which to follow the musicians’ relationships. Listen for the way guitar and piano share space, and for the contributions of the horns around them. 88 Basie Street received the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band. Exploring its individual tracks and personnel reveals the variety behind that recognition.

Analogue Productions and a new Kevin Gray cut

The 2024 Pablo Series edition is a stereo 180-gram LP playing at 33⅓ RPM. Kevin Gray cut it at Cohearent Audio, with the publisher identifying the original analogue master tape as the source. Quality Record Pressings manufactured the record. The Stoughton tip-on jacket is a single-pocket sleeve, not a gatefold.

This release uses a new Kevin Gray cut, a distinction worth preserving when comparing it with editions pressed from older metalwork. Mastering details belong to the specific version in hand, rather than to every release carrying the same album title. Musically, the record offers a rewarding view of late Basie: full arrangements, a smaller ensemble and the piano as the connecting presence.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and dispatch from Hilden. Editions not currently in stock are dispatched after the goods arrive.

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Customer question: Buying Analogue Productions records in Europe

Series: Pablo – all 30 records, musicians and the session book

Musicians

Participants and documented credit status. Track references correspond to the tracklist.

• Count BasiepianoParticipation: Album personnel
• Sammy Nesticoarrangement, bandleaderParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Cleveland EatonbassParticipation: Album personnel
• Dennis MackreldrumsParticipation: Album personnel
• Bob Summerstrumpet, flugelhornParticipation: Album personnel
• Chris Woodsalto saxophone, fluteParticipation: Album personnel
• Kenny Hingtenor saxophoneParticipation: A3, B3
• Joe PassguitarParticipation: A3, B3
• Sonny Cohntrumpet, flugelhornParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Frank Szabotrumpet, flugelhornParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Dale CarleytrumpetParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Jim CrawfordtrumpetParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Grover MitchelltromboneParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Dennis WilsontromboneParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Booty WoodtromboneParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Bill Hughestrombone/bass tromboneParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Danny Turneralto saxophone, fluteParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Eric Dixontenor saxophone, fluteParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Eric Schneidertenor saxophone, fluteParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2
• Johnny Williamsbaritone saxophoneParticipation: A1, A2, B1, B2

Big band: A1, A2, B1, B2, arranged and conducted by Sammy Nestico. Small group with Joe Pass: A3 and B3. Produced by Norman Granz. Recording: Allen Sides.