The Count Basie Orchestra with various artists — “The Count Basie Orchestra Swings the Blues” — Candid Records, via Alligator Records
Blues and jazz have always been musical siblings, their origins swirling mysteriously in the mists of musical history. I have read, somewhere, that the blues is “the mother’s milk of jazz.” That sounds good to me.
They have both gone their separate ways, and at the same time shared their DNA in all that they have done.
Every once in a while, they get together again to celebrate their relationship, and when they do, the results are as splendid as they are here, in this outstanding session, “The Count Basie Orchestra Swings the Blues,” featuring a stellar group of blues vocalists that brings and swings the best of both worlds.
Scotty Barnhart, the leader and keeper of the Basie band flame (also professor of jazz trumpet at Florida State University), says the idea for this album came to him in 2019 as he sat next to Bobby Rush at a Blues Foundation Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony Count Basie.
“I knew The Count Basie Orchestra’s next recording should be one that had at its root, the sound of the Delta Blues. Of course, the orchestra has demonstrated time and time again its unique ability to play and express the blues at many different tempos with unparalleled precision. The Count Basie Orchestra is a blues-based orchestra and everything that it has ever played or will ever play has that particular inflection in it. It’s a blues that makes you want to dance, snap your fingers, tap your toes, and feel good. Mr. Basie said, “our blues will make your blues go away.”
And all of that is precisely what’s going on in this delicious album.
It all swings to life with “Let’s Have A Good Time,” with Castro “Mr. Sipp” Coleman shouting an original blues as the band struts exuberantly behind him. The ageless Bobby Rush takes the band deeper into the Delta with his harmonica intro on “Boogie in the Dark,” gradually bringing the full orchestral sound up behind his vocals.
Shemekia Copeland delivers a fiery take of the Koko Taylor classic, “I’m A Woman” as the band vamps along, adding Buddy Guy’s tough guitar and Charlie Musselwhite’s solid blue harp. The soulful swing of “Down Home Blues” pairs Keb’ Mo’ and Lauren Mitchell in a slinky duet. The blues classic “Stormy Monday” adds Bettye LaVette’s terrific voice to a fresh and swinging arrangement.
Robert Cray takes the spotlight with a gently swinging, soulful turn on “The Midnight Hour.” Mr. Sipp returns with a big-voiced “Dirty Mississippi Blues” while the band churns those muddy down-home waters. “The Patton Basie Shuffle” follows, an instrumental that gives the big Basie sound its head, with a flurry of sparkling solos.
The vocals resume with Ledisi warning about her own bad self in “Evil Gal Blues.” Jamie Davis brings back echoes of shouter Joe Williams with “What You’ve Done,” and then Carmen Bradford lights a slow-burning fuse with “Just For A Thrill.” The final track adds George Benson’s swinging guitar on the jazzy instrumental “Rock Candy,” as the orchestra swings hard to bring the curtain down much too soon.
Scotty Barnhart was correct. This was great musical idea. The Basie orchestra and the chosen blues singers blend effortlessly into a session that’s as timeless as the band’s music. Let’s have an encore presentation.
There is, of course, a large amount of Count Basie music available, both audio and video. One of my favorites is the somewhat obscure 1979 film, “Last of the Blue Devils,” in which Basie appears at a reunion of some of the surviving members of the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, one of the first of the big bands, later known as the Walter Page Blue Devils. Basie joined the band in 1928, before forming his own. If you can find the film anywhere, it’s pure musical joy to watch.
Here’s “I’m A Woman” from the album:
Tracklist:
1. Let’s Have A Good Time – Featuring Mr. Sipp
2. Boogie In The Dark – Featuring Bobby Rush
3. I’m A Woman – Featuring Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Charlie Musselwhite
4. Down Home Blues – Featuring Keb’ Mo’, Lauren Mitchell
5. Stormy Monday – Featuring Bettye LaVette
6. The Midnight Hour – Featuring Robert Cray
7. Dirty Mississippi Blues – Featuring Mr. Sipp
8. The Patton Basie Shuffle
9. Evil Gal Blues – Featuring Ledisi
10. Look What You’ve Done – Featuring Jamie Davis
11. Just For A Thrill – Featuring Carmen Bradford
12. Rock Candy – Featuring George Benson
Blues Roadhouse 