Jim, you really must listen to the early Basie band, before the arrangers
took over.
Try to find their stuff recorded between '36 and '39. A lot of the best was
originally recorded on Decca.
You will find classic, heroic solos by Buck Clayton, Sweets Edison, Dickie
Wells
Lester Young, Herschel Evans, Jack Washington and Basie. Vocals by Helen
Humes and Jimmy Rushing. A privilege, in this huge universe, to be on the
same hunk of rock and be able to hear this.
Do you know how some people say (or used to) that they got chills up and down
their spines to see the American flag pass by in a parade? That's how I feel
when I listen to those old sides.
David Lahm
