B+
You know, I think maybe I just don't like Big Band that much. This is a very fine album for what it is, but what it is happens to be a genre of music that doesn't really grab me. Despite the title, which promises an explosive listening experience that to be fair many of the tracks deliver on, I found myself drawn more to the quieter songs. That said, "The Kid from Red Bank" and "Whirly-Bird" are both delightfully over-the-top.
I don't know. This is a very well-played album, and it's beautifully recorded. There's also a lot more prominence given to the bass and drums, which as a fan of rhythm sections I can only approve. And Basie's piano playing is very simple but also very enjoyable.
Look, there are 1001 albums in this book, and I guess I just have to accept that I'll have absolutely nothing to say about some of them. This is a nice listen. If you enjoy big band and swing you'll probably enjoy this. I like it as background music. I don't find it especially rewarding as a deep listen, but having it play while I'm doing something else I find it quite nice. I just don't really enjoy how every other song is "quiet passage> tuneful solo> big loud horn riffing". It's enough to induce listener fatigue. If anything it sounds like it should have been a vocal album but they forgot to dub the singer in. Which probably shouldn't be surprising given that Basie did a lot of work as a backing band for jazz singers throughout his career.
Which is a long and complicated way of saying that I'm not really qualified to judge this. It's good, it's just not my cup of tea. I can see myself warming to it with time, but especially after living with Ellington at Newport for several days I'm just not in the mood for it.
Best Songs: "The Kid from Red Bank"; "Duet"; "Lil' Darlin'".
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