Alon Marcus Posted August 20, 2005 Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 (edited) Over the years there were many great tenor players in Basie's band. I know that you'll have a lot of interesting things to tell me about 'em and maybe some recommendations for recordings. I won't mention Prez. He already has his own thread. Herschel Evans is the first one, the antithesis of Prez. Some other exceptional players of the old testament are: Buddy Tate Don Byas Illinois Jacquet The wonderful Wardell Gray and recently deseased Lucky Thompson The new testament also had wonderful tenor players Frank Wess and Frank Foster Paul Quinichette (this is the best Quinichette picture I googled) and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Now this is a list of tremendous players and they all have been with Basie. What do you have to say about these guys and what's there to listen from their solo recordings? Edited August 20, 2005 by Alon Marcus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Hawkins Posted August 20, 2005 Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Herschel Evans was indeed the first to come to mind here. I also love Lockjaw's playing. If 'Flight of the Foo Birds' isn't one of the nicest tracks of all time, then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted August 21, 2005 Report Share Posted August 21, 2005 So many great tenors passed through that band. (Let's not forget Gonsalves!) Still. . .for me . . . it's Pres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted August 21, 2005 Report Share Posted August 21, 2005 A record I used to listen to a lot featured Frank Foster. Hope Meets Foster -- Elmo Hope Quartet and Quintet (Prestige/OJC). All Hope and Foster tunes, too, except "Georgia on my Mind." As I recall, Gary Giddins picked it as Foster's best outside of Basie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted August 21, 2005 Report Share Posted August 21, 2005 Basie's band has always been my favorite. This is largely based on the talented tenors he's employed. And, more important and remarkable in my mind is the PAIRS of tenors: Pres and Evans, Foster and Wess, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swinging Swede Posted August 21, 2005 Report Share Posted August 21, 2005 I saw the Count Basie Orchestra live in Gothenburg yesterday. The current tenorists are Doug Miller (who replaced Eric Dixon in 1989) and Doug Lawrence (who replaced Kenny Hing in 2003). Both were fine; Lawrence soloed more frequently than Miller. I must say however that the one who stole the show was guest soloist Gunhild Carling. She joined the band for two numbers at the end, one being the ultrafast Jumpin’ at the Woodside, and she showed incredible technique, great jazz feeling, and had that fat type of tone that you mostly associate with pre-bop trombonists. I had heard her name before from trad/swing contexts, but I had no idea she was this good. The band members were clearly impressed. Check her out if you get the chance. Oh, and Butch Miles at the drums was great to see too. But I’m derailing the thread. Back to talk about tenors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spontooneous Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 No love for Eric Dixon, people? P.S., I don't think that photo is of Quinichette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 (edited) Charlie & Paul: Paul on the left. Edited August 22, 2005 by marcello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Jimmy Forrest had a good stint w/the band. For me, when I buy a Basie side, I look to see if it's gonna have either Pres or Jaws. If it does, I'm in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Isn't Budd Johnson on one of those lenghty Roulette live dates? For me, Prez, once and forever... I love some of those later recordings with Lockjaw and Dixon, and of course the NT band with the Franks (and Billy Mitchell!!!), but Prez was the best. Evans, ok... Tate same, Byas, cool... Gray, a great player, but he didn't fit in really (but I love that foto of Fats with the pants up... and Eager, too!) Something true about the pairings, though (Evans/Prez and the Franks). But really, the vibe that Prez brought to the OT band, freely floating on top and in and out of the band, that's something we never heard again, and those moments are some of the most beautiful in all recorded jazz I've heard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alon Marcus Posted August 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 A record I used to listen to a lot featured Frank Foster. Hope Meets Foster -- Elmo Hope Quartet and Quintet (Prestige/OJC). all< Hope and Foster tunes, too, except "Georgia on my Mind." As I recall, Gary Giddins picked it as Foster's best outside of Basie. ← Nothing special on Hope meets Foster, nice session (could you expect less?) but no more than this. My favorite Foster so far is Coalition from Elvin Jones, where he is teamed with another tenor genious; George Coleman. . This session is also on Jones' Mosaic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereojack Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 My favorite Foster so far is Coalition from Elvin Jones, where he is teamed with another tenor genious; George Coleman. . ← Yes!!! This is my favorite Elvin album! That version of "Yesterdays"............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montg Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Interesting cover of Rouse and Qunichette--does anyone happen to know where that photo was taken? For me, the combination of Jaws and the Vice Pres in the early 50s was superb--the contrast really highlights what's great in both of them. And I enjoy the tracks where Jaws is on tenor and Basie is on organ. Has anybody's SOUND on tenor ever meshed better with organ than Jaws?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l p Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 there may exist a 45 rpm record of Herschel Evans as leader, or playing with non-basie personnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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