Reviews (page 7 of 14)
I thought I'd like this more. I am an avid jazz fan, and as much as I love pieces of this, collectively as an album I wasn't super into it. Great sounds, and probably underrating this.
i appreciate the art of this at the time, but it dind't hook me in just based on my bias against big band
Didn't live up to the hype of the album cover, but I dig Count Basie so he gets a pass.
Big band music, huh? Sounds good to me, but I have zero frame of reference as to how this stacks up to other tracks/albums from the genre. I guess it sounds more 'modern' than other tracks I have heard over the years (as much as an album from 1958 can be considered 'modern'). No idea - I like it so I will give it a 3.
Perfection. Love love. Favorite album we’ve gotten so far. The instrumentation was flawless.
fun little album
I like Jazz. That start was really fun, it did taper off a bit near the end. 3.5 if I could give half stars 1 - would not listen to again 2 - if some one played it, I'd probably just zone it out 3 - didn't hate it, didn't love it 4 - saved some songs from the album 5 - would buy the album or already own it
I appreciated some of the more nuanced jazz bits that went into pushing the genre forward with this
Love it!
not as good as I expected
I haven’t listened to much Count Basie in my jazz ventures but will be listening to more.
Some real fun and catchy swing. If you like this genre this stuff is fire.
Beautiful big band sound. Easy to see how this music was the sound of the greatest generation.
this is like, the jazz I pretend to play when I make fun off jazz
Never liked big band as much as later styles, but this was much more in line with what I typically enjoy about jazz.
No wonder they call him atomic with all this trumpet blasting Yeah this some good shit
Total energy even in the laid back tracks. Raw power with a huge group. I know we love genres and labels but I don’t think there is an emotional difference between this and The Stooges. Both are muscular and assertive. Maybe Basie isn’t try to pick a fight but it’s definitely wild and he does want you think they are badass. Even though there is a full orchestra you can still tell that there is a swagger that is coming from one person.
Great album to start the say with.
Minha predileção sempre foi pelo jazz camerístico, com suas formações de trio, quarteto e até quinteto, até que me deparei com o primeiro álbum que despertou minha atenção e interesse pelas Big Bands: "First Time ! The Count Meets the Duke" (1962), que reuniu os dois grandes mestres Basie e Ellington. Neste "The Atomic Mr. Basie", os tons pulsantes dos metais em contraposição ao estilo econômico do piano de Basie criam uma atmosfera encantadora. Muito bom!
Big band and swing. The best of the early 50s.
not my vibe. good, but wouldnt listen again.
It’s the bomb
Hermoso disco de jazz
Nice jazz.
so fun, reminds me of an old cartoon/silent film instrumental.
Great listen, they combine very well the compositions to make it an accessible and easy listen, but at the same time keep it ambitious and interesting. I imagine that back in 1958 this was a much more groundbreaking record than it is today, but it remains an excellent jazz record, with great arrangements, very good performances and a cohesive project. The songs are all pretty good, and I liked how they ordered the album to combine upbeat and more calm tracks. If I had to pick, I'd say my favourites were "The Kid from Red Bank", "Flight of the Foo Birds" and "Midnite Blue". "Splanky" and "Whirly-Bird" were also great.
3.8
Really nice background music, the cover made me think of fallout and it hits a very similar tone to the music featured there. It’s somehow really calm and upbeat. Not something I’d listen to regularly but appreciated the excuse to give it a listen.
Sick album cover. The horns right off the bat on the first track really do feel explosive. After forty minutes, you’re left with a wonderful collection of songs ranging in mood, albeit, not the most groundbreaking stuff here, still I can’t complain. 4/5
A very chill, jazzy, walking bass type of hazy speakeasy vibe. Very nice.
Cool jazzy album, did greatly enjoy the vibe and it was quite fun!
A good example of a genre that also happens to be really good. 4/5
The album was a nice break from Shoegaze, Britpop, and Metal.
★★½
An enjoyable big band jazz album. They don't make music like this anymore. Standouts: None really, it was all pretty good Rating: 4/5
On of the all-timers...
In years past, big band was my go to for jazz. In recent years, I have become more fond of the smaller ensembles a la Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, etc. But this was nice to go back to. It might not be my favorite form of jazz, but it is still a lot of fun.
Not for me! 😊 For me it sounds like something that I would find as background music in a old cartoon.
Surprisingnly jazzy and chill. 4/5
Every song kinda hits the same notes and just blends into one.
Classic big band sounds.
There are not many that can swing as hard as the Count
Actually heard this one from Jason’s list. Nice and jazzy
Top big band jazz album that really swings if that's your thing. The band sound great but the man behind the scenes, Neal Hefti, who did the composing and arranging on most of the tracks definitely deserves the name check on the cover. Feels a bit like music for films and tv at times.
Обложка громкая, конечно.
I don't get jazz but sure.
When it jumps, it jumps. When it doesn't, it certainly doesn't. I much prefer it jumping.
I thought that I would like this more than I actually did. It's an ok album, an enjoyable listen, but ultimately not to my taste. Three stars. Would I listen to this album again? Probably not, no. Would I buy this album? No. 1 "The Kid from Red Bank" - 3 Stars. 2 "Duet" - 3 Stars. 3 "After Supper" - 3 Stars. 4 "Flight of the Foo Birds" - 4 Stars. 5 "Double-O" - 3 Stars. 6 "Teddy the Toad" - 4 Stars. 7 "Whirlybird" - 4 Stars. 8 "Midnite Blue" - 3 Stars. 9 "Splanky" - 3 Stars. 10 "Fantail" - 3 Stars. 11 "Li'l Darlin'" - 3 Stars. Total - 36 Average - 3.27
Appreciated for what it is.
Not right now, maybe never
It's truly criminal that this is the only Basie album on this whole list. No April In Paris? No This Time By Basie? No Straight Ahead? Psychotic.
Big Band enters the second Jazz Age. Fast enough to be BeBop, but Basie is so sophisticated. Twinkling piano solos for subtlety. Bold brassy horn chart that callback his setups. It is at its best when it swings.
Not much to say about this album, big band jazz is so established genre. Still, enjoyable to listen.
Hadn’t heard before and loved it
4.5/5
Eddie Davies is worth the price of entry for his fabulous saxophoning.
Solid swing album. I like the trumpet and piano riffs.
Not for me
More post-war jazz. It's just not my thing, but this seems like a really crisp and high quality example of pops/jazz. If I was into old time dances and getting dressed up for a night on the town this would be a go to, but I couldn't tell you when I've ever done that.
I can't say it's bad music, but listening to the music that plays during the opening credits in 1950s movies is not what I'm here for.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I typically don’t reach for Jazz, but this was smooth and had its moments. Some of our film scores just would be the same without splashes of this genre done well. Rounding up because I think it’s above average Jazz. 3.5/5
I really enjoyed this. Most likely due to its heavy swing and big-band sounds instead of just plain old jazz. A great soother with cocktail in hand.
I’m sure this was the cats meow at some point, but found this to be a bit dull
Sure. I didn’t find too much to dislike about this. Overall a good listen. I just don’t know this genre enough to know why this stands out.
Cool for what it is but not really my cup of tea. I'd probably feel different had I been listening to it live in an underground speakeasy with a cocktail in hand... 3.25/5
6/10
Very much just a vibes listen, would put this in the background when I'm looking for a lowkey vibe and want some calming music. Not much to say else about it other than I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. Favourite Tracks: Splanky, Lil' Darlin', The Kid from Red Bank Least Favoruite: Fantail
Better than Coldplay
Amazing classic!
Love this!
Band jazz, not experimental but very good. Walking bass lines, big brass. Sounds like the fifties.
Fun high-energy high tempo big band dance music with some amazingly raunchy sax solos, swinging beats, walking bass, playful back and forth between the parts of the band, and, in the slower moments, some mellow moods. I can't be the only one that kept expecting to hear the Family Guy song half the time.
fun to listen to an album with only musical arrangements, you could almost see Sinatra dancing in the background! But i have to admit I got bored after some songs
A nice and refreshing change. I still thought it lacked something which catches me
meget behageligt
Ikke nær så hårdt som man skulle tro med det der cover, men jeg nød det mere end jeg havde regnet med!
Big band jazz just hits differently
Fun listening to this old-timey big-band jazz swing!
4/10 The best jazz album I've heard so far, which ain't to say a lot. If perhaps we could remove the BLAST of the brass, I could tolerate it more, but there it is. Mostly reminds me of Police Squad and the intro music to all those 60s comedies on when I was a kid, so not all bad.
Decent big band music
This was a genuinely enjoyable listen, good instrumentation, a great groove, completely enjoyed this.
I really enjoyed listening to this jazz album, which has some great grooves, rhythms and melodies.
Count Basie and Sidney Bechet were always playing at my parents place when I was a kid, and back then I saw them as old-fashioned and a bit dull. Listening to this album now is a surprise and it changes my perspective. It’s a solid swing record, full of life, with a few quieter, more intimate moments that add a nice balance. Still, it started to bothered me a bit at second listen, mainly because I never been so much into big band stuff, and it will not become a favorite of mine in that style of music. An overall nice experience though.
I was expecting something completely different based on the artist’s name and the album artwork, maybe hip-hop or funk. I was clearly way off, but I definitely enjoyed this album. Very nice swing/big band sound made for excellent background music while working. I clearly knew nothing about the artist, but I would enjoy a deeper dive into their catalog, assuming I remember to do so.
Really solid Count Basie album. Really enjoyed it and I'd definitely put this one in the rotation.
This was alot of fun. I don't think I can listen to Count Basie all day everyday, but this was top notch and a mushroom cloud album cover, whaat!!
Känns välgjort men för sömnigt för min del.
The best Jazz!!!
Kände inte till denne Count Basie, men jorå!
I’m gonna need to listen to this again. I usually dig Basie but this was just background music this time.
Really enjoyed, loved the compositions and instrumentation. The big band swing vibe is always so fun and just such high energy playing and solos. The solos were really strong and felt written, even if they were not.
Great album. 4.5/5
Solid big band album
pretty good but basic jazz album doesnt deserve to be listen before you die worthy
I LOVE ATOMIC JAZZ
KABOOOOOOOOM
Ok hear me out...I watch a lot of baseball games, baseball documentaries, etc. The whole time I was listening to this album I couldn't stop thinking about baseball legends playing ball back in the day. I can honestly say I haven't set out to listen to Big Band music before but I enjoyed every second of this.
jsp j’ai pas bien réussi à y faire attention et ça m’a pas vrmt marquée dsllllll je réécouterai un jour
OOOH ORCHESTRAS..... i will have to relisten to this....
Monsters inc. A very relaxing and chilled half hour. I really didn't think I would enjoy this, but happy to be proved wrong. Another victory for the list. I asked a friend what decade he would put the album cover "80's punk album"
Estamos en 1958, buenas orquestaciones.
Big band, atomic mushroom cloud, a good mix of high-energy fast paced tracks and slow, sometimes melancholy tracks. As a fan of Fallout, this is right up my alley.
Nice jazz stuff, some pretty cool parts though very samey
Amazing, amazing, amazing. What a goddamn treat to listen to, I could put this on repeat for an entire day and not get sick of it. Full of such emotion and energy... it's SO good. Going to have so many of these melodies and motifs stuck in my head now.
Reiseradioen! First track is the theme song for a radio show that aired every summer when I was younger. What a flash back. After that one it became background noise
Just can’t get over how tight the band is on this album - the crazy runs both saxes and brass do in such perfect matching tones and lightening speeds. Always in awe
Always good to hear a great big band and this is a fantastic album..though the cover art is a little distressing for these times.
This is fine. Whirly-bird is a cool track. Can picture a guy born in like 1930 listening to this on an old timey phonograph, telling me they dont make music like they used to, snapping his fingers along to the beat and hollering "Hot damn these cats are cookin". Nothing against it, I guess I just prefer other forms of jazz to big band/swing, so I'm glad I listened to at least realise that.
Not a jazz fan
After three plus listens I'm finding it difficult to identify anything I don't like about this album, especially that name and cover. That's the 2025 equivalent of a band releasing the album "Saddam's Bunker Busters" it's just so damn American. Good shit, Count Basie.
2.3 I appreciate some of this music needs to be on here but it's just really not for me. Suits being a forgettable soundtrack to a random 60s movie to be honest.
Smooth and bright jazz at its pentacle. Perfect dinner cooking album
I'm going to say this is fine. Jazz isn't typically my thing, so I wasn't surprised that this album didn't exactly make me excited. There's good musicianship here. However, there is a lot of that short, abrupt staccato that I just didn't personally enjoy all that much. I would say it was overused. Brass instruments are powerful, and are very harsh to listen to when they sound shrill. Overall, appreciate it as a band kid. Disliked it as a person who doesn't exactly love jazz.
pou pi dou da dla di pa dou
Authentique bioune d'époque!
C'est ben bon mais j'étais quand même tanné avant la fin. 3.75 étoiles
Incredible album !
Don’t really like just the orchestra.
Jazz
Nice to listen to, but maybe a little snoozy at times for me. Enjoyed it much more after work. I like Double-O and Midnite Blue. Also Splanky is fun.
This site never misses with its jazz picks, I swear. It's a major compliment to a jazz artist/band to make a face like you just smelled moldy vegetables from their playing, and this whole album made me look like my tongue was about to go flying out of my head. Beyond amazing.
Easy listen for a jazzy morning rutine.
Pretty good
Slow, background jazz. 3/5
First off, I'm blown away by the album art (pun intended). If there was a more punk rock album cover put out in 1958, please send it to me. This is worth owning on vinyl just to have the sleeve. I love big band music, but I have spent no meaningful time digging into specific albums. This was a pretty easy listen for me, and a good way to start an overcast/drizzly Monday. It's certainly an "in your face" version of this kind of music, so you better be ready to go with that energy. "The Kid From Red Bank" punches you in the gut to start the album, so I appreciate that it's followed by "Duet" and "After Supper" which help you catch your breath and get into the Swing of things (pun clearly intended). Once you're back on your feet, "Flight of the Foo Birds" starts swinging again and doesn't stop until "Midnite Blue". Finally, you get a break again. Ok, it's only been 13 minutes, but in this weird fight analogy I've apparently committed to, that's a long time! This notable change of pace made "Midnite Blue" stand out to me on first listen, more than either of the earlier slow songs. From here "Splanky" speeds things up again, but it knows you're tired and your feet are moving slower than they did in the earlier rounds. "Fantail" follows a little quicker, just to see if you have one last spar in you, and "Lil Darlin'" sees you slowly shuffle back to your corner to await the decision. Does any of this make sense? Of course not. I should have written this like a dance card, not a fight card, because that's a much more normal way to analyze the pacing of an album. Beyond that, why is the first track compared to one punch, some tracks are full rounds, and some are something in between? Great question. Maybe 7 people will ever read this far anyway, so I don't feel particularly compelled to fix it at this point. Overall, a fun listen, and a good excuse to poke around the Count Basie discography today.
This one was a bit of a surprise. I’ve liked what little Count Basie I’ve heard in the past, but never really sat down and really invested. I really like it in the background, and will probably give it another spin at some point. I wish the mix was just a bit more bottom heavy, but the music is fun and lively and interesting.
Jazz
This album did not disappoint. Packed with talent in a short time frame from beginning to end. But I doubt I would listen to it again.
I'm glad that my knowledge of Count Bassie has now expanded beyond obscure jokes from early seasons of the Simpsons. I'm a big Jazz lover, but I've never really dipped my toe in the Big Band water. The music is delightful and the album cover is absolutely monstrous in the best way.
Sha-doobie-doobie-doo. Impressive, made me bop my neck in and out. Good background music for doing your admin. But hard to sing along to if I'm being critical.
Not what I was expecting from the name or cover, but I like the jazzy big band.
I'd usually be dismissive of an instrumental on this list, but I really enjoyed this!
Some nice jazz. Would be nice to put on in the background while I work.
Some good Jazz
I have heard his name 100's of times and I am sure I have heard many of his songs- but strictly as background music. This is the first time I ever 'listened" to it. I like it. The jazz infusion into the swing style was quite cool.
Amazing album. Great from start to finish, if not a little repetitive.
Big band jamz.
scho laaaang kei rchtige jazz me gha uf dere liste. und uiiii het das drive und isch geeeil arrangiert (neal hefti geile siech). duet meeega groovy und suuuper geils trompetesolo super bluesy aaah i liiike. super super geil. after supper no ruhiger aber d harmonie gebed gnueg spannig dases interessant bliibt. flight if the foo birds isch huuuuuere geil sooo geili block harmonies sie sind soo tight fuuuck. aso double o und teddy the toad hend s staubsuuge gad zu eiiiinere freud gmacht fuuuck huuuere geil. midnite blue wieder so wieni de neal hefti kenn eig langsam sanft schön schnuufigi arrangements. uiiii es chan dynamisch aber schono abgoh oyeeeeaaah. lil darlin sooo schön RIESE FÜFI.
das isch ja es explosivs albumcover😆😆😆 the kid from red bank isch so es richtig FLINKS lied, v.a. s klavier! duet isch chli langsam aber find d trumpete super POAH de schluss vo whirley-bird GAHT ABBBBVBB allgemein gfalled mier die schnellere lieder chli besser aber mier gfallts megaa de drummer hets au sooo hert im griff VIAAAA
01) The Kid from Red Bank - 5,5 02) Duet - 6,5 03) After Supper - 5,5 04) Flight of the Foo Birds - 5,0 05) Double-O - 5,5 06) Teddy the Toad - 5,5 07) Whirlybird - 5,0 08) Midnite Blue - 6,0 09) Splanky - 5,5 10) Fantail - 5,5 11) Li'l Darlin' - 6,0 TOTAL: 5,59 (56/100) Current ranking: 490/580
Old school jazz pop. Refreshing
As a drummer, i do love these old big band and early jazz classics. I also love the arrangements and the horns. Also the bass playing....the piano. Love it all. It really blows my mind with this big band stuff that one man arranges it all. Basie is really enjoyable and this is a record i will revisit. great to either have as background or to immerse yourself in.
D'apparence simple, mais beau et complexe, véhicule des émotions nuancées.
Definitely not my cup of tea. Not a jazz fan and I need to hear words to enjoy music.
hell yea. atomi pommi baybe Tsar Bomba (1961): 50 Mt, Neuvostoliitto, Testi 219 (1962): 24,2 Mt, Neuvostoliitto, Testi 147 (1962): 21,1 Mt, Neuvostoliitto, Testi 173 (1962): 19,1 Mt, Neuvostoliitto, Castle Bravo (1954): 15 Mt, Yhdysvallat, Castle Yankee (1954): 13,5 Mt, Yhdysvallat, Testi 123 (1961): 12,5 Mt, Neuvostoliitto. omggg neukut.. neukkupojat hävisi suomen.. the line of finland you know the border.. 2 feet of bodys under ground.. graveyard of bodts. kuvassa toki operation plumbbobin jälkeinen yksi nevadan räjähdyksistä nimeltä hood.. eihän siellä lähellä ole ihmisiä... eihän tästä mitään negatiivisia vaikutuksia voi tulla.. the ki d from red bank
Ok
Big band music that makes me think of NYC in the 50’s. Highly energetic and on the better side of the big band/jazz movement. I’d listen again, but it does have a time and a place 😅
Great album, easy listening. Not a huge big band guy (without vocals at least) but enjoyed it nonetheless.
J'adore ! Je suis emporté dès les premières notes. Un peu répétitif si on écoute d'une oreille seulement, #jazzvie
Goed maar saai
So jazzy. I like it.
ok now we're fucking cooking with gas. listened to it 3x.. what a treat
I enjoyed listening to this big band jazz while I worked and over the weekend.
It's sorta jazz, sorta big band. It's nice. Very pleasant to have playing in the background. I swear I recognize bits and pieces of it. Some of these songs have definitely been used in movies and television. I didn't find any proof of this on the wikipedia page, but I did learn that this album won the best jazz album at the very first Grammy's. Neat. Honestly, I don't have much to say about this. It's nice while it's on. The horn work is great. It's eerily familiar. It feels like music i already know (reminds me of the music on everybody loves Raymond?). But it also doesn't really grab me. The album played through multiple times and it all sorta blurred together. Maybe the most interesting and attention grabbing thing about the album is the album art. Looks like a real picture of a mushroom cloud from an atomic bomb. Bold choice. Anyways, ya, it's a real solid 3 out of 5 for me.
This is truly an atomic album. I need this album. BOOM!!!
Quality music but not my cup of tea.
Good tunes. Enjoyed this.
This is an old one but a good one. I've heard a few of these before in various soundtracks or videos, but never listened to this album all the way through. I'm glad I did though, since these were a great vibe and so lovely to listen to.
Tight. Really listenable.
Thanks to a certain circumstance (married to a trumpet performance major) this one hits for me from the opening and just keeps rolling. Can't say how many times I've thrown this one on, but any time I wanna see my wife get transported to her former life, this one does the trick. Love the vibe, and the musicianship is as good as it gets in the genre. They just don't make em like this anymore.
Cool. Love seeing some older stuff on here!
I really like the more upbeat songs on this, wasn’t as big a fan on the more slower tempo ones as they felt quite repetitive with the same baseline but that wasn’t the case for a lot of these songs, my favourites were pretty much the entire album but there were some standouts: the first one, fight of the foo birds, teddy the road and Whirly-bird. Overall 7/10.
Makes me feel sophisticated and classy whilst also having major alcoholism and domestic issues.
okay to listen to in the background, a bit boring but i guess a good instrumental. Probs wouldn’t go back to listen to it
Prima jazzy
Cool beans!
Good listen, lots of energy, very talented musicians. 6/10
jazz innit, out of my depth with this one, but it was nice to listen to
Great stuff!
Big brass sound! Looney Tunes vibes! Old movie feel!
Big band, big sound, big good.
Cool, 50s lush sound, wish for just a little more variety
367/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Love me some jazz and this couldn’t brighten any day
Really fun and jazzy. Some incredible keys
Great start to the challenge, really enjoyed the big band jazz and was previously unaware of this artist. Havent listened to the genre much at all but will keep this around.
Good, though not something I would really ever listen to
E ovo već može! ✨ Baš fini mix jazza, cabareta i swinga. Finjak! 4/5, 7/10
While I respect Count Basie's contributions to music, this was an album I just couldn't really get into. Probably a genre thing, since brass-focused big bands don't entice me all that much. I generally find the style uninteresting. There were some good moments here, and I can't say it was bad music. The compositions really showed how talented the players were. Even so, I'm not really tempted to listen to it again and I didn't feel like it was a great album. Comparing it to some of the other albums I've gotten in the same general vein, this was one of my least favorite. I'll give it credit for what it did well, but can't personally rate it very high. Overall: 2/5
Overrated
Overall: 6/10 The musicians here are top notch. The sounds here are huge and played with tight precision. I'm still very new to jazz but I enjoyed this. Hopefully I'll like it even more when I'm more accustomed to this style. Fav Song: Flight of the Foo Birds Least Fav: After Supper
Musica jazz de chill.
Fallout ass music
While probably a great jazz album, this is fully instrumental and not really for me 💔
Very cool
I really liked this. Listened on a roadtrip and this was kinda silly roadtrip music but i liked it.
Nice big band stuff.
Oh yeah! The energy on this album is fantastic. It's light and playful but with a big, full sound. The drums have a great thump-a-whump style to them, the horns are spectacular and theatrical, and the piano from Count Basie is a joy to listen to. When I'm writing, I like to make playlists of albums that fit the mood of the story. Depending on the project, that might be ambient electronica, or maybe something more industrial. Lately I've had a need for upbeat jazz, and this album is going right into my current project's playlist.
Awesome big band jazz from one of the best to ever do it. It's light when it wants to be, the brass slam when they want to slam, and it grooves all the damn time. Really great record and love the Red Bank NJ represent.
Fun. Light. Repetitive.
Very uplifting, charming and amusing. I won't take seriously an album that makes me think of old cartoons and feels like they were having fun.
Not a huge fan of swing, but this is about as good as it gets.
Yeah this was cool, a nice swing record. I usually like my jazz a bit more weird but it was pleasant.
Not a big fan of jazz or swing, not my type of music so find it hard to really say if it's good for what it is or not.
Good big band stuff! I can't distinguish it from other artists because I'm an absolute ignorant, but this was fun to listen to.
This album is just flat-out excellent. No filler, no fluff. Every track is tight, clean, and built to move. Some of the best tracks, like “The Kid from Red Bank,” “Splanky,” and “Whirly-Bird,” don’t drag or meander. They snap, swing, and stay out of their own way. Basie’s piano barely says a word, but it still leads with total authority. The brass section is razor sharp, the rhythm section feels effortless, and Neal Hefti’s arrangements know exactly when to hold back and when to punch. It’s not loud for the sake of it. It’s precise. Confident. Stylish. I played a few of these in jazz band, which partly explains why I connect with this album so much. That experience adds something personal, but even without it, this is a clear 5 out of 5.
Great vibe. Classic stuff.
I dug it
Was real good. Wish I had more to say except I really liked it.
Loved the first song.
First Jazz album from this project that I would say I actually like.
Incredibly fun to listen to with enough musical diversity from track to track to keep things fresh front to back.
Big band, big horns, big licks, big energy - big fun. Basie and his tight band are on fire here, ripping through originals and setting standards. Favourite tracks: Duet, Double-O, Fantail
3.5
Just listen to the brass
I expected I'd hate this, but I didn't. I even recognised track 2! Still don't need to hear the album again, but it's really not bad.
Fun album! Highlights: Whirly-Bird, Flight of the Foo Birds
Really good! Super funky, enjoyed the focus of different instruments in different songs. Loved the softer songs mixed in too Favourites: The Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, Whirly-bird, midnight blue, Lil Darlin’
Bombastic swing, super jazzy, nice flow, great horns . Standout tracks: Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, Whirly-Bird, Midnite Blue (sampled by Blu)
this was nice, easy to listen to
Reminds me of 10th-12th grade Jazz Band. :-) Slappin!
sehr nice! definitiv positiv überrascht.
De Swing era, cultureel gezien zeker een interessante tijd, maar music-wise is het niet de jazz waar ik vaak op terugval. Dit album is daar geen uitzondering op. Het is wel peak 'swing', en vast één van de betere albums die je kunt vinden die uit die tijd stamt. Het begint altijd krachtig, kleurvol en ja, swingend, maar het wordt mijn inziens altijd een beetje cartoonesk hoe langer ik er naar luister. Vind het wel een hele sterke album-art, zeker voor die tijd. Vandaar nog een extra sterretje. 6,5/10 Highlights: The Kid from Red Bank Lil' Darlin'
Count Basie was volgens mij wel een baasie. Legende van de big band swing. En swingen doet het zeker. Al blijft het ook een beetje vervreemdend om zo'n album op de oortjes te hebben anno 2025. Het klinkt zo enorm als de jaren 50 en als 'film' (en dus als fictie) dat je het bijna lastig is om dit als muziek op zich te beoordelen. Ik houd het dan ook maar bij "vermakelijk" 6,5/10 Highlights The Kid from Red Bank Midnite Blue
Wonderful!
I have adjusted my rating, this is the first album I listened to for this project and I have come back and listened multiple times since then, it deserves 5 Stars Fav songs: literally all of them!
Not for me
An enjoyable album that showcases some great arrangements and a lot of talented players. What struck me most about listening to this album was that I realized I had actually played a number of these charts in various jazz bands over the years. Really shows that they are the staples of the genre. And while it is a genre that I like, I don’t know that I would be reaching for this album as my first listen.
N ouvi
Very enjoyable, favourite song was supper but the whole album is so good!
This was entertaining. 3.5
5/10 Im sure its good. I just failed to enjoy it Highlights: Double O Splanky
alright, not really my vibe
Unbelievable
fun, very fallouty
Greit, men nja
3/10
Great album for working. Didn't get a major reaction but it was a pleasant listen.
Not a genre I have any interest in, beyond historical importance/influence. I have been listening off-and-on to Andrew Hickey's "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs" podcast (I am only up to Screamin' Jay Hawkins, which is a full 53 episodes in!) and I remember a lot of the early episodes discussed Basie, Ellington, etc., pretty heavily. We are so lucky we grew up in a time with rock music. LOL, imagine getting excited by this.
Dokaz da se i swing jazz fazon može slušati kad je dobro odsviran, a ovo nije samo dobro nego odlično. Posebno s obzirom da je bilo prije skoro 70 godina.
Good music
Very chill album, would definitely use for study or homework time or just general vibes
Amazing album! Every song is a masterpiece!
Beautiful, chaotic, wild
Fet, og fin inngang til jazz som ikke bare er peiskos og rødvin.
Nitimen FTW! Eller er det Reiseradioen?
Old fashioned but classy.
Splanky!
No words
The song on here that I've been playing on repeat is also the most unique to the record (Lil Darlin). All the other tracks I mostly appreciate for the sound or the novelty of "big band", but generally not my taste. Lil Darlin tho... god damn! Throw that on, light a cigar on the back porch and live life. Reminds me a lot of the horn sections on Pet Sounds.
A little too dated to serve as generic background music, but still pleasant
This probably isn't the best weekend album, but I was feeling the big band jazz all weekend. There is different pace throughout the tracks which keeps things fresh. I loved the trading and individual piano part in Lil' Darlin' that follows with a harp. It was entertaining just trying to pull out each instrument from the background. The recording themselves are also fantastic. They mustve done some serious remastering in the 90s to save this from 1958 standards.
Count Basie Live at the Sands was one of my first and favorite jazz albums. Flight of the Foo Birds always blows me away, and found some new favorites this time through. This whole album just rips. The horn section is so tight. The rhythm section is blazing - Freddie Green was drilled into me as the king of subtle jazz comping - I think our band played Splanky at some point too. I honestly don't love Big Band music all that much, but everything is dialed to 10/10 on this album, it's hard to look away. Count's piano work seals it for me.
Beautiful work
I was excited to hear this, I have a history with swing dance, and I wanted to hear what a bona-fide big band swing album released in the era of hard bop, modal jazz and free jazz sounds like. I am pleased to say it sounds very good, this is effectively a perfect swing album, with incredible performances and great pacing. Most importantly, this release captures the joy of swing as an artform very nicely. I’m kind of torn on what to score this, but I’ll settle on a 4, although it’s a 5 if I’m listening to it while dancing.
CBO + Neal Hefti! Não tem mistério. Impossível ficar parado. Só de colocar esse disco pra tocar ele imediatamente domina o ambiente. Cada solo parece um soco na barriga. De maneira positiva, digo. A capa o representa muito bem. Mas ele também tem seus momentos frios, lentos. É um disco completo. 2.5/5
Just couldn't feel the music.
Nope
I would probably go nuts over this live but this style of jazz never quite hits the same way for me on vinyl. Still a banger though.
80% Best: The Kid from Red Bank; Flight of the Foo Birds; Whirly-Bird Must-Hear? Maybe
I don’t know anything about jazz. But this sounds great.
A great introduction to big band jazz that reveals more of itself as you return to it.
Przyjemne, oldschoolowe granie z prawdziwymi instrumentami. Aż chce się tańczyć. Uwielbiam taką wirtuozerię i zabawę dźwiękiem. Wszystko jest tak nasycone, że wokal jest zupełnie zbędny. 8/10
Count Basie! No need to say more.
Pretty chill, good background music
Instrumental albums like this tend to be less my thing, but he's pretty bombastic!
Now this is jazz. Great listen, I loved this.
Some more extremely tasty swing. That double bassist was putting in work! :theWildest:
A really fun listen overall!
From the moment I saw the album cover I knew this would be a fun one, and it did not disappoint. Every song has a different mood, the slower moments feel classy, and they always pick right back up with some type of fun and energetic (dare I say 💥 explosive) swing. This is some of the best jazz we've had on the list. Bravo Mr Basie 👏
One of the easiest 4s ever. This album so clearly sounds like people having a fantastic time and I love it. Good balance of slower and faster songs and my compliments to the guy playing the upright bass.
Nice, but nothing that gets my blood pumping.
Mad talented but not for me
I liked it, seemed like good big band stuff Will I listen to again: 34%
One more time
Not bad but it blended into the background for me.
Incredible jazz record. It's played with so much precision that I cannot not like it.
Not really my style but not bad
I get why this album is considered good, but I really dislike big band and find it extremely boring.
This was amazing! I'd always meant to listen to Count Basie and now may have to do much more listening!
Guilty Pleasure.
🍸
Great jazz album, loved the tunes on this one!
Good stuff. I may prefer smaller jazz music, such as trios, quartets, but an orchestra by Baise has some power.
Smooth refreshing jazz
This is hard bop... that bops!
I tried to listen to this bearing in mind that I don’t really like jazz and that it was from the 1950s. But, even with that in mind I don’t think this was particularly impressive or progressive
well this wasn't unenjoyable, but it's not something i would've sought out on my own. but i suppose that's part of the purpose of going through this album list; hearing music i probably wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise i think i could listen to this in the background (maybe while playing a fallout game or something?) and not complain much about it
I liked it! Realize I’m in more of a rock headspace so this wasn’t what I wanted in the moment but it’s great.
Nice
I felt like i'm in 1958, driving a Jaguar Mark IX while listening to this... wonderful! 5 stars.
This album gave me LIFE today
Some really cool old jazz tracks on this one. Super fun and probably great for dancing. Feels like something you’d hear at a vintage party. 7/10
I've never listened to anything like this before. I know nothing about jazz/swing/big band music. It's super, super energetic and fun! I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would, even if it's not really my thing. I'll have to revisit the genre at some point. Also, badass album cover art lol
Hearing this album made me wonder how life was during this time. I imagined the fashion and swagger men had listening to music like this. While I didn't particularly like the more fast paced tracks the ones with a slower beast really had me in a mood. I never listened to a Count Basie album but I wouldn't count it listening to another.
Love the highs of this album, the lows aren’t necessarily bad they just fall flat to me. I haven’t delved too much into the swing era of jazz, so this was a nice introduction. Overall I enjoyed this album. This is very much a 3, but I would come back to listen to this again. Standouts: The Kid From Red Bank, Duet, Whirly-Bird, Midnite Blue, Lil’ Darlin’
The musicians on this album played their hearts out and it shows. What an introduction to big band for someone that hasn't really listened to it all that much. Lil Darlin is a beautiful song and is incredibly romantic.
I love when these cats be cooking, especially on that sax dammmnnnn boi 🤤🫱
Regal but swingin’
I like either the slow and mellow ones like Lil' Darlin' or the more noisy seemingly unstructered ones. Nothing in between
Interesting start...
Classic, but not really my thing.
Big band swing is not my favorite jazz, but this album is put together pretty well. It has some excellent brass and comes in pretty hot. Better than most.
Never heard of Count Basie before. Enjoyed this album. The bass, meets and horns are all amazing.
Very fun high tempo swing. I'm not sure what it was about the 90's that Swing and Big Band music suddenly became popular again, but I always enjoyed it.
Fav songs: Duet; After Supper Big band is enjoyable music. I prefer the slower songs.
Great album!
Great album. Great background music.
Wtf was that.
I think I'd need to be on drugs to get anything out of this kind of music.