COUNT BASIE & HIS ORCHESTRA
Basie Meets Bond (Capitol Jazz)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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This is a reissue of a 1965 release, made when there were only 4 James Bond films (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball), all starring Sean Connery, who famously cracked in one of them that The Beatles should only be listened to while wearing ear muffs. It was an US and THEM situation then, and they were using swing as a basis for "cocktail music," which is what much of this sounds like. That means it would have sold by the boatload three years ago during the exotica revival, but it might be more of a sales challenge now. We shall see.

It's not horrible by any means. While it's not top-drawer Basie (or even sock-drawer Basie, when you really qualify his work), there are interesting treatments, nice, easy listening swing versions of familiar tunes, and a few standout solos, particularly the tenor sax of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis throughout the set and Marshall Royal's alto on "Thunderball." Basie himself stayed back for the most part and let his guys have at it, but now and then you get to hear that unmistakable less-is-more piano do something special. How'd that guy manage to always make the notes he wasn't playing sound as great as the notes he was playing? Makes me want to own every damned Basie recording.

I'm sorry... I'm rambling. "From Russia With Love" is playing and The Count, long in his grave, is still impressing me. Not my fault. By the way, Chico O'Farril fans take note: he did the arrangements on 7 of the original 10 tracks here. There is now an 11th bonus track, the earliest version of "Dr. No's Fantasy." All in all, an interesting addition to the collection, though rookies should note it's not basic Basie.

Track List:

007 * The Golden Horn * Girl Trouble * Kingston Calypso * Goldfinger * Thunderball * From Russia With Love * Dr. No's Fantasy * Underneath the Mango Tree * The James Bond Theme * Dr. No's Fantasy (First version)

© 2002 - DJ Johnson