Basie Jazz

EU-only 180 gram vinyl LP pressing including two bonus tracks and digital download. The tracks on this album present the second incarnation of Count Basie's big band. His second band was created at the urging of Billy Eckstine, who convinced Basie that even though the era of the large jazz-swing orchestra, an era he was an architect of, was by all appearances over, he could make a real go of it with his brand of blues and swing. Basie was initially skeptical, but agreed when he was offered other supporting opinions from the likes of Norman Granz and Willard Alexander. He set out to create an orchestra that was not as susceptible to personnel changes, and initially featured the charts of Neal Hefti and Nat Pierce, and later those of Frank Foster and Johnny Mandel, among others. Basie Jazz, showcasing 1952 recordings, presents some of the earliest sides made by Basie for Granz. It also includes the very first preserved collaboration of the Count and Oscar Peterson playing together.