Basie and Beyond

Basie and Beyond

ASIN: B00004YNDT

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
To those post-baby boomers weaned on Michael Jackson's Thriller, this straight-ahead jazz date by the superproducer Quincy Jones, with Count Basie orchestra arranger Sammy Nestico, may seem out of place--a relic of Jones's distant jazz past. But to Q's old-school fans who grew up hearing him with Ray Charles and Lionel Hampton, and on albums like This is How I Feel About Jazz (1957) and Walkin' in Space, this CD is a long-awaited return to his roots.

Jones arranged and produced a number of Basie LPs in the 1960s, and he also arranged the music when Frank Sinatra and Basie convened on classics like It Might As Well Be Spring, so it should surprise no one how well Basie and Beyond swings. The band is composed of topnotch West Coast session men, featuring flutist Hubert Laws, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. Along with a few no-nonsense tunes by Nestic--including "Ya Gotta Try ... Harder!," "The Joy of Cookin'," and "Out of the Night"--the date features Jones's several rare 1950s and '60s tunes: a midtempo update of "Jelly Roll" highlighted by tenor saxophonist Watts's Coltrane-ish lines. The Tadd Dameron-tinged ballad "Quintessence" and the late-night Kansas City stroll of "The Witching Hour" show Q's still got it. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Basie and Beyond,The Quincy Jones,Sammy Nestico Orchestra,Warner Bros / Wea,Big Bands,Jazz,Jazz Music,Mainstream Jazz,Modern Big Band,Pop,Swing

Average customer rating:

Very cool since I listen 2 "Q's Jook Joint"

Met all of my expectations

Not Bad just not as Strong as it should have been

Basie meets smooth jazz ...

Swingin' Band

Basie and Beyond
The Quincy Jones , and Sammy Nestico Orchestra
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | R&B | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004YNDT
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Tracks:

Ya Gotta Try... Harder!
Belly Roll
Grace
The Joy Of Cookin'
Quintessence
How Sweet It Is
Hard Sock Dance
The Witching Hour
For Lena And Lennie
No Time Like The Present
Lisette
Out Of The Night

Amazon.com

To those post-baby boomers weaned on Michael Jackson's Thriller, this straight-ahead jazz date by the superproducer Quincy Jones, with Count Basie orchestra arranger Sammy Nestico, may seem out of place--a relic of Jones's distant jazz past. But to Q's old-school fans who grew up hearing him with Ray Charles and Lionel Hampton, and on albums like This is How I Feel About Jazz (1957) and Walkin' in Space, this CD is a long-awaited return to his roots.

Jones arranged and produced a number of Basie LPs in the 1960s, and he also arranged the music when Frank Sinatra and Basie convened on classics like It Might As Well Be Spring, so it should surprise no one how well Basie and Beyond swings. The band is composed of topnotch West Coast session men, featuring flutist Hubert Laws, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. Along with a few no-nonsense tunes by Nestic--including "Ya Gotta Try ... Harder!," "The Joy of Cookin'," and "Out of the Night"--the date features Jones's several rare 1950s and '60s tunes: a midtempo update of "Jelly Roll" highlighted by tenor saxophonist Watts's Coltrane-ish lines. The Tadd Dameron-tinged ballad "Quintessence" and the late-night Kansas City stroll of "The Witching Hour" show Q's still got it. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Very cool since I listen 2 "Q's Jook Joint".......2005-01-03

I actually heard 'bout this album he did back in '99 or '00 since I heard it on a interview he did on Bravo! Entertainment. I think it means he returning back to his jazz roots since he worked with so many greats like Ray Charles, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Patti Austin, Frank Sinatra, etc.

I don't think it ain't that much of a disappointment knahmmean. I think is much more mature since the last album he put out which was great in '95-'96 classic Q'S JOOK JOINT.

I think it's a must-have for those who are real fans to Basie, Ellington, Sinatra, Miles, Dizzy, Bird, Goodman, Woody Herman, and/or real big fans to the jazz/big band greats of Harry Connick Jr., Brian Setzer, Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau, etc. I think my man Q would deserve a high A+ 4 this one knahmsayin.

Met all of my expectations.......2002-05-19

Having played two of the tracks on the CD in the past (namely Lisette and Ya gotta try...harder), I found this CD extremely useful and fun to listen to. Nestico and Jones aren't trying to BE Count Basie, but they have their own style. This is noticeable in every track. Perhaps some people were misled by the title of the CD, while this is easy to do, these are two composers who are obviously not Basie.

Not Bad just not as Strong as it should have been.......2002-03-02

having heard this Album&Digging Quincy Jones&Count Basie Work respectively I was expecting a bit more Steam.Count Basie could Swing this Set barely cooks.Arrangements are fairly safe&Middle of the road to me.there are some good Moments but overall slightly better than what you get out nowadays in Jazz but nothing on Par off Q in Prime time.the Music&Vibe here won't make you forget Q&Basie with Sinatra at the Sands.

Basie meets smooth jazz ..........2001-05-24

I love Count Basie's music, and Quincy Jones is about as accomplished a producer as you'll find in this field. But despite Jones and some great musicians, Basie and Beyond never really gets beyond 'good'. Listen to the old Hefti/Basie collaborations, or especially the 'Old Testament' band of the 1940s and you will hear edgier, spontaneous music. As much as I WANT to like this album, it just seems overproduced. Shades of smooth jazz sapping the energy of music that used to be exciting.

There are some superb tracks here -- Ya Gotta Try Harder, Belly Roll (with Ernie Watts), Joy of Cookin', Hard Sock Dance and Out of the Night are winners to some degree, but the rest of the album sounds like a forced attempt at retro-jazz. Compared to most music being recorded this is a refreshing change, but there is a lingering commercialism behind it all that colors the music. Count Basie? A legend, but I expected something different -- honest, exciting -- from an album that is presumably a tribute.

Swingin' Band.......2001-05-08

You have done it again Quincy and Sammy. This album exemplifies what it means to have a big band. The tracks are kickin' I have read some of the other reviews of this project that were not so supportive. Those individuals are obviously uneducated to the art of jazz. For those individuals, just keep listening and maybe one day you will get it.

Average customer rating:

Roots to Roots & Beyond

Manufacturer: Dave Holden
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAA8FU
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Average customer rating:

Kansas City and Beyond Volume4:1936-58
Count Basie
Manufacturer: Bellaphon/Delos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DPHT
Release Date: 1991-05-03

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music