COUNT BASIE Basie Jam RARE TEST PRESSING APJ 022 Norman Granz SEALED

$

153

COUNT BASIE Basie Jam
Analogue Productions Test Pressing
New & Sealed Audiophile Vinyl LP

Record Label: Analogue Productions APJ 022 (Test Pressing)

Rare test pressing for the limited edition, Analogue productions remaster of the Norman Granz produced, Count Basie classic. Only information on the disc itself is stamped on the upper right corner of the cover.

These highly collectible test pressings are from the first stamper and sometimes less than 10 exist. Test pressings reflect the closest you can get to the lacquers and hence have a special collectible value.

Album is packaged in a generic white sleeve with the following information stamped in the upper right hand corner: January 4, 1995, APJ-022 A2/B2. Analogue Productions tests were usually pressed at R.T.I. and should have one of their generic labels with identifying matrix numbers inside the sealed cover.

Record is new and still sealed in it's original plastic sleeve.

Disclaimer: Because this record is sealed, I am taking it on faith that the vinyl within is what's marked on the jacket. As I've said, it's the only identifying marker on the LP.

Doubling Blues
Hanging Out
Red Bank Blues
One-Nighter
Freeport Blues
Freebird

Review: Here's a late 1973 session that features Count Basie with an eight piece band. After a classic Basie Piano intro the first track Doubling Blues swings like mad, but then you notice theres something different going on when the solos start. Whats different is that Basie is playing Organ for most of the rest of the track and the difference is amazing. The little Piano phrases that we're all so used to hearing Basie play aren't there. Then after six minutes the Piano comes back in and we finish track with Basie as we started.

For more of Basie's Organ playing have a listen to 'One-Nighter' a lovely medium tempo number on which he plays a restrained introductory solo, before Zoot Sims (I think) plays the opening Tenor Sax solo. Listening to Basie's Organ comping behind the Sax solo I began to wish he'd played more Organ in his career as it seemed to be as natural as his Piano playing. I assume its a Hammond B3 he's playing and it makes a beautiful sound.

You will soon realise as you listen to the rest of the tracks on this great album, that as the title indicates, this is like a jam session, so all the tracks are based around the blues. When you have musicians of this standard thats no bad thing. Apart from those I've already mentioned there is also Louie Bellson - drums, Bass is Ray Brown, J J Johnson - Trombone, Irving Ashley - Guitar, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis - Tenor sax, Harry Edison - Trumpet.