The Atomic Mr Basie

It's a classic of the big band era. Not my listening favorite

It was the perfect listen for this morning knowing I was going back to work after 10 days off. Needed that nerve calming jazz. Just a fantastic album

Þetta var alvöru old school. Gat alveg unnið við þetta. Múvaði mann alveg smá. Tónlist var svo töff eitthvað á þessum tíma.

Skemmtilegt. Magnað plötuumslag.

Fuck this shit I forgot to save what I wrote ughhhhh. Basically never heard of them big band jazz must be cool I'm expecting something fun, since I like jazz and it's not rock as it is typically here. First song, it was catchy got to repetitive at some point, but overall I reaaaly enjoyed the piano and the trombone thingy. It was chill, but the dramatic parts made it better, definitely something I'd put on in the background, or when I'm doing something, it's not distracting, thoughh gets interesting. Second song, was too long I must say, I got a little bored. It low key has some animation background vibe iykyk. The outro was amazing. Piano and the trombone were doing great here as well, but this one was louder, so not chill, but it still is very nice to hear, enjoying it so far. Third song, OH, nostalgic start, I've heard those notes somewhere. Ooh getting better with the new instruments. It's less loud. The background instrument is fun, but even more fun is the saxophone solo rn. Piano time, also chill, and there was no beat change, and there won't be I suppose. I want more ordered chaos next. oh I also said that about the first song, it was calm, but chaotic too. 4th song, fast start, movie vibes, old one. The instruments are better in this one than the last one. The solos are even more interesting to hear too with the background ones especially. It's the same vibe now, I think if it's gonna be this long, it gotta have some beat change, though that's the point that it's same, and not progressive for no reason. Liking it less, but still jazz is jazzing. 5th song, slow start, but it got fast with that one instrument with the dramatic sound. I think I'm just not in the mood for this, I'll continue listening later, I wanna dance to this and I'm in bed, so will do this tomorrow. I'm back, and Imma start with the next song instantly 6th song, typical loud start. It's vintage, and I definitely feel the big band vibe. Would be definitely used of Pink Panther, or such kind of stuff, orr I also remember this vibe from the old moviess. Ohh right, Merilyn Monroe would sing to this perfectly. I'm getting it, and this could be my jazz awakening. Imagine if there were transitions, and the whole album was just one big song. 7th song, same kind of start, and it's going well, oh piano wasn't used in the last song, good to hear it again. The solo of the saxophone is the best part here, more consistent and less chaotic, butt I do like the chaos here, just it's not the best. It's getting faster and funkier, loving that. I think I've said this, but if I didn't, I need a version of this album with vocalss, would fit the vibe and make it more interesting, but I also want this. 8th song, slightly longer it is. Piano solo now. The start was loud as I remember, mix of instruments and went into the piano, and it's still playing beautifully. I think if this is nostalgic to someone, they experience this album in a much better way, like knowing what the next notes and instruments are gonna be, first listen is just not it. This one is less chaotic. 9th song, oooh this is a fancy start. This is quite more chill and dinnery. No random outbursts of the instruments, which idk if it's good or not, but it's definitely different. Ohh nvm outburst came in and it lasted longg. The piano is the best part here. I'm not impressed by this as much. 10th song, piano start and only piano for now. I hear the drum like sound in the background. Oooh saxophones came in (dunno the names of that instrument types so). The solo is great, not, per se, unique, but it's something, especially with the drums. Whole orchestra came in. This didn't stand out I must say. 11th song, oh it's melancholic for the first time. No piano here. It's quite slow, and the way they play is giving something. Charlie Chaplin's sad parts of the movie vibe, like him just walking, because something happened to him that made him feel down yk. Now this one didn't have any outbursts, also it stand out, because it was the most different one. Well even though I am not exactly WOWed rn, I like jazz, and this old way of jazzing especially by a big band is giving, I can't rate this 3 stars, it's too Goldie oldie yk, but it's not perfect, soo 4 stars is the best solution here. This is either an amazing background album, or a dance one.

Definitely has a dated feel, but in a good, nostalgic way.

An enjoyable listen. Powerful album cover!

Pretty great! And I played two of these songs in jazz band when I was younger.

Only real comment I have about this is why the fixation on the atomic bomb. Like, if you're really going to name your band after and use a photo of an atomic bomb as album cover, your music really has to be da bomb, you know? And this really isn't...

I grew up watching black and white big band musicals on TV in the 50's. Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger's twirling across the dance floor and all the others. This album is amazing!

Favourite Song: Duet Hard to pick a favourite song within Jazz, as usually the overall album sound can feel samey. An enjoyable, hot jazz album with a lovely energy that does end on a mellow tone.

Good from start till end.

Better than I expected. Cool jazzy swing feel

Loved the change of pace. Very easy to listen to and great to hear some big band stuff. I fell like all i'm getting is some form of rock. This album is like a breath of fresh air.

Not really sure why this album is here, nor why it seems so highly regarded by the critics. Played, but it just seems to noodle on. Inoffensive. 2/5

This was beyond delightful. Great record.

Swingin!

So energetic bombastic atomic even! Liked this!

Really a fantastic big band album. Not that I know much about it, but this was such an easy, pleasant listen. 9/10

A lot of these songs had familiar, predictable riffs. Much more up-beat than what you’d hear in a Panera.

# 164 : My first thought were man it so old. I can listen, but its not real good, Audio quality was low by modern standards. I'm not much of a fan of albums devoid of lyrics, I found it boring and a bit Too brassy.

Really just a pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Exceptional!

Absolutely top notch jazz, a big band sound with improv front and center. It's almost impossible to go higher than this without vocals. Deepest respect for Basie ❤️

2,5

Me gustó mucho

It's good, but samey. It doesn't help that the bonus tracks are some of the same songs. Favorite song: double-O.

"The Atomic Mr. Basie" is a seminal album by Count Basie and His Orchestra, released in 1957. With its iconic lineup, the album presents a masterful blend of swing, jazz, and big band sounds. From the vibrant opener "The Kid from Red Bank" to the serene "After Supper" and the lively "Flight of the Foo Birds," each track showcases Basie's impeccable musicianship and the orchestra's tight arrangements. The album's standout moments include the swaggering "Teddy the Toad," the energetic "Whirly-Bird," and the soulful "Lil' Darlin'." With its swinging rhythms, smooth melodies, and soul-stirring solos, "The Atomic Mr. Basie" remains a timeless classic in the realm of jazz and big band music, capturing the essence of Basie's legendary career and influence on the genre.

разъеб полный

классика джаза

Блин, это же прям звучит как основа для музыки, которую я так или иначе в жизни слушал. Прикольное. Подходит для танцев с котом

Love this record upon first listen. I can already see myself coming back to it many times.

I can tell this is influential but I am not a big fan of instrumental music

Classic

Very nice. So well done. Beautiful.

Toller Jazz. Leider Big Band und etwas alte Schule (oh Wunder). Aber musikalisch astrein.

Jazz 🎺 superb

It sounded like a very familiar big band/jazz album. It makes me think if these albums are so iconic that I've heard them in a lot of movies/tv shows.

Great! 4.

The badass album cover actually live sup to the music. Wow wow wow!

A very solid final big band record of the era. A perfect record for introducing Big Band jazz to someone. It is all here. It was also the final hurrah and the last barrier before Rhythm & Blues, and Rock & Roll take over the popular music charts, from here on out. The album cover is iconic and may seem subversive for the era, but wasn't really because Atomic Age visual design motifs were all the rage in America at this time. Swing would persist on the charts for a while longer but it was mostly around the personality and charisma of singers (such as Frank Sinatra), and iconic instrumental performers and arrangers (like Miles Davis), rather than the big bands themselves. My faves were "The Kid From Red Bank", "Teddy the Toad", "Splanky", and the "Lil' Darlin'".

Interesting. So down to listen to some jazz. Never listened to this before. I really enjoy listening to jazz. I just never go out of my way to listen to Jazz.

What a gift, my life is better for hearing this album. The voicing in each instrument is so beautiful and full of character, I swear you can hear lyrics sung by each soloist. Every instrument shines in this unique cast of characters. The story this tells is incredible. Incredible work, I’m still tapping my foot

I was waiting for it to be over

Terrific

It sounded very nice.

Not a fan of Jazz but this was pretty good. Also crazy that this is from 1958.

Nostalgic, transports you to another time :)

Great background music. Jazz/Big Band that just feels great to listen to and probably to write to. Adding this to my rotation for sure!

Basie gets a 5.

Like the classic big band music

FUCK YAEH BONG BONG BONG BONG

Solid album!

I don’t know much about big band music but it was good to listen to something a little different

Totally enjoyed the entire album.

I don’t like this style of music

Not for me (couldn't listen to more than a couple of songs).

Jazz not really my bag but enjoyable nontheless

If you're gonna pick one basie record this is probably the one. Outstanding and so smooth. Basie got his big break two decades before this and people were starting to count him out. At the time of its release, jazz was now dominated by the small groups, with bandleaders like Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane that were taking the the genre forward at an insanely breakneck pace. They rewrote the rule book. Then basie quite literally comes out swinging with this and people were gobsmacked. He incorporates so much more complexity into the big band arrangement, learning from the new generation but without compromising the signature sound he pioneered. This is a flawless record

Some easy Monday morning listening. Old af. The jazz 3.

This is the the type of jazz that I like. Big band music that's just fun to listen to. Love the horns. Probably a 4.5 but I'll round up

This was nice music but I have no genuine basis for comparison here, so I’ll just say that these cats are really swinging!

Jazz, Swing, Big Band 1958 Not something I'd listen to often.... 5/5: 4/5: The Kid from Red Bank, Duet, Whirly Bird, Lil' Darlin' Rating: 3.5

Not usually my preferred style of Jazz but this was actually quite good. I enjoyed the "swing" vibe to it. I also enjoyed that it seems like every instrument has a time to shine on each song respectively. The album is on the shorter side and makes it very digestible. 3.5 stars

oh man this was way better than expected, hadn’t heard much of his stuff and this was def the one for me.

Not really into big band. Sounded cool at first, then got kinda boring.

Felt like I was in an old spy movie

Definitely not one that would have been on my radar. I liked it though

Dit kan ik echt elke dag luisteren. Hier wordt je toch nooit moe van!!! 4 reeten

I didn’t hate this. I felt something while I listened. A lot of the time it was irritation but some of the time it was anything but. I really don’t get on with jazz but this was an album I would have been sad never to hear. Some of it made me feel like I was a gunshot detective, on the trail of gangsters, some took me to some underground speakeasy cloudy with smoke. I felt like getting shit done sometimes as I listened. Basically, it was very good. I miiiight just return.

Thought about giving a 3, but I probably will check this album again, so 4 stars. It deserves a high rating anyways.

Loved it! It was a really fun album to listen to. I enjoyed the song ‘After Supper’ the most. So much talent & really good as background music that was uplifting! I almost felt I could see the band on stage, playing their instruments.

Nice vibe and you can feel the immense skill Basie has in each and every song.

fun and polished listen

Wow, such good quality composing and playing!

Classic

How could you not like this sound? Basie is always solid.

Solid vibe. Would probably love this if I heard it as BGM for a videogame or something. Otherwise kinda boring though.

interesting album, very strong start, it got me absolutely pumped. But it dropped off a bit and all kind of became a blur. Felt like a lot of (very good) singles rather than a solid album.

This album rocks, enjoyed most of it. Pretty cool that Count Basie had a nice run in kansas city too.

yh

I liked it a lot! Took me back to the 50s.

Solid throughout, with some brilliant musicianship. No single strong track in my opinion but a good overall album.

Didn’t mind this but kind of washed over me in its jazzy way. Extra star for the cover.

This would probably hold my attention late at night, rather than the early morning listen. It was pleasant enough in a cardigan wearing cuddly sort of way. It did sound very dated.

Some really nice swing

I really like big band jazz. Lets multiple instruments shine. I prefer slower tempos generally, and most of this album is fasssstttt. But it's really good throughout. Doesn't really do anything revolutionary, but it's the height of big band. Excellent dissonances and I was bobbing along to every song.

this chaotic. like the last big explosion of jazz (as the cover says it all) before rock and roll took over the world. cant bring myself to listen a lot to it, but its a great ride.

Different from my usual music taste but I definitely would want to listen more into the genre.

Having played in bands when I was younger, the musicianship of these folks is off the charts.

I am not a huge fan of "Big Band" music but I will give credit to the recording and musician-ship of the band. There were lots of solos spread across this album, piano, upright bass, trumpet, sax, trombone, clarinet, drum, and even a xylophone and bells. Just felt like something was missing .... oh yeah, lyrics.

+1 for the amazing musicians. A time when you actually learned how to master your instrument.

Very enjoyable listen

Very chill. Enjoyed it. Good background music to work to.

This is intense for 1958.

Jazz

Fun fact to kick this review off: everybody involved in making this album is now dead. But hey, don't let that bring the party down. Jazz veteran William "Count" Basie, fifty-four years old at the time of recording, was determined to give us all a good time despite the threat of death and nuclear holocaust depicted on the cover. In "The Atomic Mr. Basie", his ensemble tear through a collection of swing and big-band numbers, fluctuating between bombastic arrangements and gentle, lulling pieces. It's the kind of jazz I really enjoy: dynamic and accessible with dense layers of sound. "The Kid from Red Bank" (Basie's place of birth) is an arresting opening: virtuosic piano solos, a walking bass tantamount to flying, and stabs of frantic horns. From there, every player has a moment in the sun, from the sax and clarinet interplay in "Flight of the Foo Birds", the raucous avalanche of drum fills in "Fantail", the unified bombastic ending of "Splanky"… the list goes on. The lower-key numbers are great too: the drowsy, swooning tempo of "After Supper", with tender saxophone solos and gentle accompaniment, ended up being another of my highlights. There's little else for me to write as I'm no jazz aficionado: first and foremost, I have to feel it. And feel this one I did! The punchy hits on the off-beats, the swinging harmonised counter-melodies, and the sheer power of all the brass in unison… a mushroom cloud of fun.

This I like, good mellow music.

I like it

•Not owned: Streaming •Tight orchestration with performances that punch and bounce and sway, all when they should. •4/5

Probably good for it’s time. Not what I’m trying to listen to today

I'm not the biggest big-band jazz person, but this was good to listen to

Very nice instrumental jazzy stuff. I liked this a lot.

Great background soundtrack while working. Doesn't make me wanna go and listen to it again though.

I expected to like this. I like jazz and my younger brother is a jazz musician but I sort of nothinged this album it wasn't bad but wasn't good. Just ok background music

Swing makes my brain itch. Not for me.

Big Band Jazz ohne jeglichen Gesang? Funktioniert erstaunlich gut, hätte ich nicht erwartet. Ich fühle mich beim Hören, als würde ich in einer dunklen, verrauchten und verruchten Kellerbar sitzen, Zigarette in der einen (dabei rauche ich nicht mal), Martini in der anderen Hand. Hat erstaunlich viel Spaß gemacht. Ich bin zu wenig Musiktheoretikerin, um den Appeal begründen zu können. Fetzt halt, fragt nicht 🤷🏼‍♀️

Enjoyable big band swing jazz from Count Basie, with a hat tip to Neal Hefti for the arrangements who later went on to write the amazing Batman TV series theme music. There are some nice quirky elements, with whistling and an unusual twanging sort of noise which turned out to be a mouth harp in the background.

Pretty sure I would have heard this growing up as my Dad is a huge jazz fan and likes Count Basie. I did enjoy this one and am looking forward to listening to some more jazz.

This was a interesting listen at 6 in the morning haha. I really dig Basies ability to go from soft and smooth to upbeat and a bit more chaotic. The songs that are more upbeat I'm unsure if I like those or not. After Supper is definitely more my vibe and one of the stand outs for me.

Pretty nice and full energy big band album, mostly instrumental. The sound is clear, each instrument at its place and the solos are really good throughout the record. The kind of jazz that makes you in a good mood

Extraordinary big band/swing album. I love Hefti's arrangements. Both the band as a whole and the soloists are fantastic. If there is one who deserves an extra mention, it's the tenor saxophone player. Disclaimer: I played alto saxophone in a big band for several years, among other pieces some of Hefti's arrangements for Basie. Hence, I might be biased. 😉

Simply wonderful, a joy from start to finish. It's timeless.

Absolutely amazing.

Excellent album!

Exceptional musicianship

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Mr Nielsen recommended this when I started jazz band. It was likely the first jazz album I listened on repeat

Fabulous album. The Count was a treasure.

Great album. Essential jazz

Class

Big band Swing, Jazz and Blues performed by a master and his orchestra. Smooth, beautiful and amazing

maybe on another day I could enjoy this, but this isn't one of those days.

Very enjoyable, but nothing revolutionary.

So dope. Not a bad track. Only reason it’s not a 5 is because it is a situation dependent album.

Excellent! Great big band jazz

Great album, without reading up on it I don’t know the context within jazz history. Still always impressed with the musicianship in the genre. Would listen to this again for sure. I out this one on while working and was perfect backdrop for coding.

Very good game night party record.

Big Band at its biggest.

It was nice but I wasn't in the right mood for it

Enjoyed it and it was very different than what I usually listen to.

Jazz is very hit or miss for me, but I thought it was very fun and I liked that it was upbeat. It made me want to go to an old club. It’s great background music. (And that’s not a dis because it still has to be good for me to like it as background music it just doesn’t have lyrics so it’s good for me to listen to while doing other stuff.)

Twas fun

I feel bad but this did not hit for me at all. Not even a little bit. Did my best to try to stir up some appreciation for the musicianship but it was just a dull, dull record released at a time when everything you could do in the genre of Swing had already been done. Love to see the NJ representation from the artist, but can’t get even a little bit into any of this record.

This genre is tough. The general nature of big bad creates a very dated feel, but not in an endearing way. That being said, this is another album that is a vibe. I don’t know when I’ll listen to this, but I enjoyed the feeling. I am glad society outgrew this, but I also appreciate it

Another album I have, considered Basie’s best just not my cup of tea

A great example of Big Band. A quality effort you want to drink cocktails to.

Excelente

Big Band. Lively, easy listening.

Only this album can make me listen to instrumental jazz without any skips. The trumpets are superb and the star of the show, yet flow so well with every other instrument. I just there was better transition from one song to another, which sometimes felt missing. Overall great album!

Definitely some good tunes here, despite not being a huge horn fan.

Mood: Dancing around the kitchen with the cat, solely to annoy it, while cooking up something intricate and slow on a Sunday afternoon. I'm more into the 40s sound of big band so this is a little too lounge-y/Jetsons-y for my tastes but I'm not mad at it. Lil' Darlin' is excellent cool jazz.

What a formidable way to start the week. This album was just what I needed to improve an already good Mo day morning. Cold weather, a cozy scarf and walking to the office under the first sun rays hitting your face. A total vibe. Saved a bunch of songs but it would require a popularity factor to receive the perfect rating. P.S.: where is "Splanky" from? I've certainly heard that one before. Expected Marc rating: 2.

M'ha semblat molt agradable d'escoltar, i un jazz molt senzill i "friendly" en el sentit que no fa coses rares, simplement segueix una estructura senzilla i previsible que es fa molt fàcil de seguir. Expected Lorenzo rating: 3

Great music!

Instrumental. Jazz. Not my favorite, but I appreciate being exposed to it. Good background work music.

Boring

Couldn't hack it, I'm sure many people froff it big time, it just ain't me

Just can't sink into this kind of jazz. Would never doubt the playing or composition, but it's a little too jaunty, and I end up frustrated. Two and a half. Fave track: Lil' Darlin

Insane album art from a bopping swing outfit. This was easy to get into and definitely showed off the flashiest and most polished sounds a big band recording can create. Had my socks blown right off listening to the drums on Whirly-Bird and Fantail. Wonderful collection of tracks - beginning to understand and appreciate Basie’s stratospheric reputation in 20th century music. Fave track: Whirly-Bird

It was

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a great album! I'd never heard of NEAL HEFTI (trumpet, writer, and arranger) before listening to this collection of Bop/Swing tunes. 45 minutes well spent listening and reading about him.

I never really know how to rate Big Band, so I never know what to say. I liked it, thought it was good.

Väldigt underhållande och stämningsfullt album

Nice, pretty rockin' for the era

Loved this. Reminded me a lot of Vince Guaraldi.

Enjoyed

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Iconic. I felt like I could sit in with the band and gain a lifetime of skill

Maybe I don’t like jazz. I’ve realised I much prefer listening to songs with lyrics or it gets boring for me, like I’m just listening to a backing track.

not my cup of tea…

Loved it!

I don't know much about big band jazz but I enjoyed listening to this one.

boring even for a instrumental

Classic jazz Dinner music Cozy

Yeah baby! Absolutely having this on Boxing Day, totally nails the mood. The fast ones swing hard, the slow ones swing easy. Perfection. 30s big band jazz might have the most originality, but I can't quite overlook the huge developments in production by the time records like this were coming along 20 or so years later. So I do tend to favour this era over the older stuff in my listening. My favourite titbit I just learned is this is arranged by the guy who went on to write the Batman 60s theme tune.

This was a nice listen. I don't know a lot of big band jazz but I enjoyed listening to this. I picture it as dinner party music from that era.

Als jemanden der Jazz Musik nicht fasziniert, hat sich dieses Album nichts an meiner Grundhaltung geändert. Man kann es mal durchhören - schlimm ist es nicht - , jedoch neigt man auch bei dem ein oder anderen Song zum springen auf den nächsten.. damit man es schneller vollendet hat.

Well, this album just gets out and kicks you in the head. The energy in the ensemble is amazing. Fast rippers aplenty and some more melancholic tunes as well. I used to hear some of his music when I visited my grandparents back in the day, great to discover more of his works! Standouts: The Kid From Red Bank, After Supper, Flight Of The Foo Birds, Whirly-Bird, Splanky, Lil' Darlin' 8 out of 10

Basied as f

The sound of 1958, and the cover to match

This was some nice background jazz. A little less interesting than my jazz album yesterday but still some pleasant jams in the background for reading 3/5

the kid from red bank- 6 or 7. i like the keys. ummmm i forgot how to talk duet- the bass stepping is really nice. and of course the horns and the hits are great. i like the ending. 7 after supper- 6. i like the bass umm lucy type beat flight of the foo birds- THIS IS MY SHIT. i give it like an 8 i love to dance to it double o- i like those sax riffs. 6 teddy the toad- i forgor. 6 whirly bird- ummm i like the end. 6 midnite blue- 7 splanky- 6 fantail- 6 lil darlin- i havent been talking cause i got sucked into monkey mart but ive been enjoying the sucks just not much to say. this song is different from the others though and i think it works as the album closer. 7

perfect morning album

Fantastic

In the waning years of the 50s, this album was probably the last definititve statement of Big Band Jazz before small ensembles would shift Jazz, and the electric guitar would fully shift popular music. Fantastic arrangements by Neal Hefti, and captivating solos throughout. As I'm a sucker for walking bass lines Double-O and Fantail are my favorites.

Really enjoyed listening to this while cooking, so have no idea which track was which, but it was great. I'm not an aficionado of this type of music but I really liked it and will play again in future, for sure.

Made me smile as it reminded me of Mum bopping round our kitchen when Jazz Record Request was on in the 70s. Cheery in general, but after listening I couldn't distinguish any one track over another and it felt a bit like aural wallpaper. Plus the cover is awful.

Walked around listening to this like I was one of those 60s films with women in pixie hair cuts, white knee high boots and geometric print dresses. The actual music was nice for background but I wasn’t really concentrating. Sorry, Count

אחלה אחלה אחלה של ג'אז!

That was a fun album. I love jazz from the late 50s and this was right up my alley.

a big band led by a piano? heck yeah!

Muito doidera, mas eu não tava no clima

This was an OK Sunday morning with the kids listen. Great album art

Can't go wrong with big band.

Building from an older style, I feel this was forward thinking. Consistent, concise, with solid playing. The songs on this album do a great job of both being energetic and relaxing.

3.5

Loved it 😍

HELL TO THE MOTHER FUCKING YES!!!! PERFECTION

Nice!

Instrumentals always rate high for me and this is a good one to have playing in the background while I'm at work.

Front to back jazzy excellence. Count Basie and His Orchestra have put together some fine compositions here. This is a step outside of my comfort zone that gave me so much to work with.

I'm a big lover of the blues and have been known to dabble in jazz, but big band is something I've never really gotten into. I see the appeal, but it's not for me. That said, this album was really enjoyable and probably the best example of the genre I've ever heard.

It’s funny that one of these songs is called “The Late Late Show” because all I can hear when I listen to big band music is The Tonight Show Band blaring out overly enthusiastic bombastic blaring noise to convince people that they are about to have fun. Hey big band musicians, why is your band so big? Why do you have like 20 horn players? How is having a band this big economical? You pay each horn player $10 and you’re out $400 bucks. That’s the whole fee you’re getting for the gig. How are you going to pay the other 87 musicians? Are you going to tell Satchmo Jenkins and Tootely Toot Jones that they aren’t getting paid tonight? I’m deducting one star for each musician involved in making this ruckus above 50. That takes us to negative 8 billion stars. BWHA BWHAH BAAA WAAA WAHH!!!!!!

When I was a kid growing up in North Texas, football was a religion, and marching band was the choir. We were led by a legend in the area at the time, and he was very much a "by the book" kind of director. Marching Band 4 Life. I played trumpet, and even though all brass marched as a rule, when the football season was over, we were split into two bands: the prestigious symphonic band, and the one I was in – the "concert" band. It wasn't that I was a bad player, I just wasn't engaged enough to actually practice to make it to the level of the #1 band. I chanced to take some private lessons that year, and my teacher saw my disengagement and took me on a track a bit away from the drudge of etudes. He started teaching me blues. This lit something inside of me. I rounded up a number of my slacker band friends, and we approached our band director. We wanted to form a jazz combo, and would you please give us some direction? We received a cold no from the man, and furthermore, if we insisted on forming the combo and actually started playing jazz, he would ensure that we would never climb the ranks into symphonic band, and we would kiss any future scholarships or personal recommendations goodbye. (I know: this sounds like the plot to an 80s teen movie.) This was *not* the reaction we were expecting, but we wouldn't be deterred. We called ourselves "Unauthorized Jazz". Our first seat trombone's dad was a big cable marketing guy in the area, so we had regular mall openings, car dealerships, and parades that we were invited to play through his connections. We quickly coalesced our sound around big band swing and ragtime, and we honed our chops at the local senior center on the weekends, providing the accompaniment for the little old couples to dance to during lunch. That was a wild year. We had no end of access to sheet music, too. The local university was (is) huge in the music education scene, and it so happened that one of the local TV stations was old enough to have transitioned from radio into broadcast TV. When they did, they donated *all* their sheet music (for the live broadcast bands) to the local university. As long as we had dimes for the copier, we were set. We got really cozy with Mr. Count Basie during this time. Our arrangement of Splanky always brought down the house.

Jazzy!

I'm enjoying this. Real big sound and tons of personality.

As rock n roll stampeded over practically every other form of music, Count Basie threw a wicked right hook for big band and swing. The Atomic Mr. Basie is both elegant and packs a sonic punch.

Great jazz album, one of Basie's best.

Sounds like one long song, not much difference between the tracks. It's chill, but it gets a bit boring near the end.

This was a nice Jazzy album to have playing while at work. The arrangement of the big band sounds and Jazz beats scratched that itch.

I'm sure this is objectivley good but as a first time listener to big band swing it seems so over done. Sounds lie every movie sound track of my childhood. I'm sure Count Basie did it first but in 2023 it seems trite.

Ehhhhhh just another jazz album. If didn’t just have another one this would be higher but since all the albums this week have been duds it just bogs the album down

Fallout 3 music

I didn’t know they made this kind of music in 1958 but I’ve always been partial to it.

This album threatened to make me big-band-pilled. I don't think I got all the way there, but there's an alternate version of me that goes deep down the Count Basie rabbit hole. This is a diverse, interesting set of songs that's welcome on my playlist any old time. I don't know how often I'll return to this, but I'm much more open to that idea than I expected heading into this.

Totally enjoyed this on a rainy evening. A strong big band album that totally swings. Bonus points for a mushroom cloud cover

sleepy jazz is alright

fav: midnite blue

I keep saying I prefer jazz live. Same rule applies here. But this album reminds me there’s so much that falls under the “jazz” umbrella. This is big band type music. Reminds me of the black and white movies I’d watch with my mom on Sunday afternoons when I was a kid. Good stuff.

You've tuned in to *radroach screech* Mojave Music Radio *gunshot* Where we play nothing but jazz, jazz, jazz! *Nuka Cola bottle opens*

ultimate fallout soundtrack surprisingly varied in emotion and energy

okaaayyy typa songs they'd play at movie credit or wedding i guess but i DESPERATELY need some real human voice likeeee... its okkk no need to be shy just😇 go sing girlll😭😭😭😭😭. ((this was my first time listening to jazz album im so sorry))

keep this album. good mind stimulation to get moving

I like the slower songs. High level jazz.

An absolute classic of the genre!

Not bad at all. 3.5 stars

Pop Jazz and Swing of the 50s. Great record to dance to and feel like I’m in the past.

4.3 - good shit

After Supper would be a nice slow dance song.

I dig the trumpets. Don’t normally listen to instrumental but this was fun

jazz para sandunguear el dedo al compás

Maschine: Aür Audio Aurora Mische: etwas flach aber nett für eine knapp 70 Jahre Aufnahme... Musik: netter Swing - mehr nicht (für mich) Meinung: 2/5

Big band jazzia. Tuommoista aika elokuvamaista tai semmosta jotain mykkäfilmi. Tai niinkuin kohtausmusaa :D Foo kappaleesta tuli mieleen family guy theme

Starts pretty raucous and follows the anticipated sine wave of Basie arraignments. Enjoyable listen

Gives 70s Las Vegas vibes

Love swing, this is just a bit too jolly for my taste haha

Problemet med storbandsjazz är just förledet storband-. När alla ska med på en och samma gång blir det olidligt. Det är synd för vissa låtar hade kunnat vara riktigt bra, tex Teddy the Toad börjar jobbigt, lugnar sig, blir riktigt bra runt 0.24 (den delen skulle tom kunna samplas) men sen blir det helt hysteriskt runt 0.40. När det bara är rytmsektionen och nån spelar solo är det stundtals också riktigt bra. Men sen ska alla in och fördärva igen. Det kan tyvärr inte bli mer än en tvåa, vilket är synd, men Count får skylla sig själv. Han borde haft en kvintett istället.

Det svänger. Det är kul. Samma "problem" som Tito dock. I vilket sammanhang ska man lyssna? Om man klev in på en skön, rökig klubb på 1940-talet hade det varit episkt med ett band som körde detta. Det är dock mycket bättre än Tito. 11 av 10 gånger hellre detta än Tito. Så en 2:a. Det är i samma klass som Cream och Costello. I vissa fall bättre än Costello, och Cream är bättre i fall. Men totalt i samma anda.

Jag vägrar

Har sin charm och kvalitet, men gör sig inte speciellt bra i kontexten fullängdsalbum medan man sitter och jobbar en regnig onsdag i november.

Great turning point from the big band into the jazz era

I’m sure these were bangers back in the old timey times

I don’t think this is for me. But I didn’t find it offensive to listen to at the gym and in fact had a pretty good workout

Enjoyable to listen to, but it faded into the background.

I liked it

It’s Count Basie, it’s great. Lots of fun high-energy tracks, some really sweet slowed down peaceful ones too. I wish there were more modern artists trying to pull from big band sound.

Good old fashioned sound, love it.

good swing

I'm not familiar with this genre. It was a great Jazz album in my opinion.

Do not skip - play it through 0 and listen. Big Band like only Basie can do, The orchestra is tight - and some come off as if played in a small intimate setting. A pleasure. Will save to my account

girl no fuck this swing shit

Big band innit

Amazing flowing jazz which hurt my balls. Awesome

Good background music. Just another jazz album, nothing special.

Swing music excellence. Never heard any Basie I did not like. This is no exception. Pre-improvisational jazz, but fantastic big band music.

Really picked up in the second half. I enjoyed some songs so much I gave them a second and third listen

Another 50s jazz record that I'm not quite sure how to rate. It's solid and I legitimately enjoyed listening to it. There's also no vocals though, so it really feels like background music to me rather than something I'd choose to actively listen to. This guy recorded with Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett though, so he must be legit. Favorite song: Splanky Other: The Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, Whirly-Bird, Midnite Blue 11/11/23

Good album

Très bon swing, efficace et punchy, après même si j'ai bien aimé l'album c'est pas la musique avec le plus de variabilité.

Hard to put into context given its age and my lack of much familiarity with this era other than a few other greatest hits collections (eg, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey). But I still enjoyed it quite a bit. Apparently it was bold for its time, its title reflecting the early years of the cold war era.

2/5 - just a bit boring really. Expected something more explosive based off the album cover, but just sounds like standard old-timey big band to my 21st century ears.

I’m not sure what I was expecting off this. But not what I got, that’s for sure. Awful.

This is what jazz feels like. Soaked in a cocktail I don't even know the name of because it's that hip. You have to be in the lifestyle to order it, with your fashion, and sense, and words. It stretches your mind in the best possible ways. Move forward to what can be, a meditation in sound. The possibilities are all there. We can take them to the places we allow. That's jazz.

Enjoyable big band/jazz/swing. Not much to say about it. I feel as though I should be walking through atomic wastelands. Would be a 3.5 but I’ll round up.

I fucking love jazz

This a great album. My grandmother recently passed away and this entire album had me thinking of her while I listened. Mentioned the app and album to my mother who then revealed that my grandmother and grandfather had actually been to see this band in person while they were dating. Thanks for providing this moment!

Fallout music, no singing, good

Fun jazz album, though nothing standout for me.

Ну в общем Я не джазз человек, я сама просто так дома никогда не включу, только если в какой-нибудь предновогодний вечер в общей подборке. Или на тематическом вечере, или в театре, или в атмосферном баре - это круто. Но просто для себя - нет. Я при этом понимаю, какое нужно мастерство, чтобы исполнять эту музыку:) поэтому как всегда в таких случаях поставлю середину.

The Kid from Red Bank: I didn’t know what to expect from the album I craved this energy honestly Duet: I keep wondering what does this song remind me of Is a sultry walk of a beautiful woman with a fur collier and very long eyelashes, but is just a fantasy, an ink drawing about something none can experience in 2023 so just thinking about it become a fool, a joke After Supper: I wonder how can be such grace and harmony between people when they play together Giving space to each other, knowing harmony is needed to survive a jam I can feel the gentle touch of respect Fight of the Foo Birds: I don’t know if is me but I do crave words so bad that this one makes me cheer at the winds as they’re meaning something more than sound, as I do dream about birds’ convos Double-O: goosebumps at first, more I dig in this album more I become to hear instruments as vital energy in the sound of them Maybe is the first time I’m really gaining consciousness of instrumentals Teddy the Toad: gentle reminder of pleasure, like a man who is too fierce to listen to others Whirly-Bird: I hear fun Midnite Blue: cozy warm cocoon but I get disturbed by a device working in the background Splanky: someone has to say that story how is supposed to be told, is about going back and forth Fantail: I need to talk, no rest, I cannot explain, I feel caged in words Lil’ Darlin’: accepting fate as a woman in this world, yet facing what’s behind a bush of flowers, the journey of gentle exploration Album cover: on point, I get the whole concept

More of this

The Kid From Red Bank - 7/10 Duet - 7/10 After Supper - 6/10 Fight of the Foo Birds -8/10 Double-O - 7/10 Teddy The Toad - 7/10 Whirly-Bird - 8/10 Midnite Blue - 6/10 Splanky - 6/10 Fantail - 8/10 Lil' Darlin' - 7/10 TOTAL - 77/110

3 stars - not used to big band stuff but it's cool, more intimate than I think of traditional big band as being

Count Basie was legendary for his jazz, and this is a decent example of his music.

Makes me want to put on my finest suit, pour a bourbon and a grab cigar for an after supper swing party. I don't love big band jazz, but Basie is an incredible pianist and band leader. 3

A real toe tapper.

Starts right away with a great big band vibe. Album cover is super jarring but an explosive jazz album.

not my style at all

Nice jazz album

Great sound from a group of talented musicians. A real easy listen, even if it’s something I wouldn’t usually gravitate to

Love this😊

Good stuff

Entertaining background music

Makes me feel like a 60s housewife. I genuinely like it so far.

No

Simply the best. This is what all big bands should aspire to sound like. So tight, so brash at times, gentle at others. Lil darlin might be the perfect closer.

Ya like jazz? I like jazz.

i dont like big band that much.... sorry. makes me feel like im playing a fallout game :)

Jazz!

This feels like it could be the gold standard for a style of jazz that, as far as I know, peaked 10-20 years prior to its release in 1958. I wonder if it sounded dated at the time. That's not a knock on this album by any means; it runs the gamut from moody ballads to uptempo (sometimes really uptempo) swing and everything in between. What it lacks in vocals it does its best to make up for in other ways, mostly successful. As an aside, I'm realizing how tough it is for me to rate on a 1-5 scale. In my head this is an 8 point something out of 10 -- does that make it worth 4 stars or 5?

Enjoyable for a change - might be a classic but not my thing

Even though I don’t usually listen to a lot of swing or big band music I enjoyed listening to this album. I liked the mix of tempos and different instruments and it was a nice one to listen to with R Splankiest track: Splanky R’s fave: Midnight Blue

w jazz

Tak sobie wyobrażam nowoczesna muzykę w latach 50.

sweet

wasn't a fan, not bad just not my style

Nice change of pace. Provided some excellent background music for my 10 min nap over the lunch hour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the other 50 minutes while awake.

This one was actually pretty great. I had nothing bad to say about it except that the cover was strange. But I'm not supposed to judge by thr cover so 5 stars it is

I’m sorry, I just can’t do jazz for long periods of time unless it’s low and slow like smoking meat. I can dig Kenny G. I bet that man can smoke some meat. Lucious, glorious meat. But enough about my Kenny G fantasy. This… well, this popped. But not in a good way. Very high pitched. Very staccato. Not unlike Flight of the Bumblebee or my recent sentence structure. However, Flight is a delicate piece on a violin that still soothes you as much as it makes you uneasy. But this… well, this was markedly more aggressive by virtue of the trumpet’s incessant blasting into my amygdala. I’m sorry, Count Basie, but I’m afraid I’ll have to count you out. Down for the count. More apropos to this review, a count of one. No recounts allowed.

Mrs-Maisel-core

Swing aint my thing

Great big band jazz. Piano was impressive.

Lively and fun, Reminds me of dancing with Amanda!

Did not like it at all too many weird ass tunes

1st day! Interesting start (first song). I like it so far.

I can't tell how much I loved it but it was good.

I'm not normally a fan of jazz/instrumental music, but this is really good and fun. Not something I'd put on a lot but I have to admit once in a while I will. A total surprise of a 4 for me.

Mieli lepää kun ei pistellä ei yritetä.. tämä voisi olla 1 star.. mitään ei yritetä.. Jazzia minimimeillä.. Kuitenkin 3 star.. koska iloinen olo tätä kuunnellessa.. Equilevantt to John Coltranes spiritualistic awakening.. Joskus ei tunnu reilulta objektia..

very good album that i can play in the background

Love this album! Happy energy. Added to my favorites.