What
do you know a gig! It's a Count Basie revival with all usual
suspects.
It will base it on the radio broadcasts by Count Basie's Orchestra during the halt in commercial recordings caused by the Musician's Union strike of 1944-45. And include the return of Lester Young to the line up. The band is a different band from the one heard in the 1930's Kansas City days. The music is heavier, harder hitting, and tighter. However, a buoyant swing throughout is paramount. Vocals by Jimmy Rushing, Thelma Carpenter, will add a romantic touch, and Lester Young's lyrical playing will make this set as classic, his light, airy tone will create solos that almost overshadow the songs. Highlights will include the moonstruck ballad 'I Dream of You,' and the foot stomping 'Circus in Rhythm.'
Musicians prossed up and ready will include, depending on who we can get at short notice:
Me as Count Basie (leader, piano)
It will base it on the radio broadcasts by Count Basie's Orchestra during the halt in commercial recordings caused by the Musician's Union strike of 1944-45. And include the return of Lester Young to the line up. The band is a different band from the one heard in the 1930's Kansas City days. The music is heavier, harder hitting, and tighter. However, a buoyant swing throughout is paramount. Vocals by Jimmy Rushing, Thelma Carpenter, will add a romantic touch, and Lester Young's lyrical playing will make this set as classic, his light, airy tone will create solos that almost overshadow the songs. Highlights will include the moonstruck ballad 'I Dream of You,' and the foot stomping 'Circus in Rhythm.'
Musicians prossed up and ready will include, depending on who we can get at short notice:
Me as Count Basie (leader, piano)
Harry
“Sweets” Edison Trumpet
Jo Newman Trumpet
Freddie Green Guitar
Lester Young Tenor sax
Buddy Tate Tenor Sax
Marshall Royal Alto sax
Earle warren Alto Sax
Rudy Rutherford Clarinet & Baritone sax
Al Killian Tromb
Dicky Wells Tromb
Eli Robinson Tromb
Walter page Bass
Jo Jones Drums
Some line up eh? Those of you who know will no doubt point out that some of the above never played together. But they were all in Basie's line up at some time. So who's complaining? Not the punters on Scrap Planet IV. Oh, didn't I say that it was Brian who got me the gig. Hidden depths, Brian. This scrap planet is somewhere in Ursa Minor. A mere tick away using the MWD. When we are all prosed and the chips in place, we are the Basie Band. Even Basie's wife Catherine Morgan couldn't tell us apart.
The Opera House on Scrap Planet IV, is based loosely on The Pompidou Centre in Paris France back on Earth, now a rusting edifice. That is to say all the parts are reconditioned bits from various Galactic Cruisers and Merchant Men, with all the functioning bits strapped onto the shell. The concert hall itself is lined with fabric gleaned from the interiors and sewn together, a magic tapestry of colour. We do the sound check, then go sight seeing, as far as the nearest bar. Everywhere else is too noisy with the sound of metal being crushed, sorted and packaged for export. The bar is decorated with holograms of famous jazzers through the centuries right up the latest graduates from Leeds Jazz College. This all bodes well for our set. Todays graphic designers are a clever bunch, animating old photos that were originally hung on London's famous Ronnie Scotts walls, even one of me relaxing.
The surprise is that the audience is dressed up in 1940's clothes. We start up with 'Motion Swing', and the seats move back to reveal a dance floor. The scrappers take to it and the fun begins.
One 'o Clock jump, Jumpin at the woodside, April in Paris, All of me, we just keep rolling those hits. Soon the seats disappear into the walls and all the auditorium is a dance floor filled with jiving bodies.
Jimmy Rushing calms it down a bit with 'Going to Chicago' but mostly it is a gas. We finish with an extended version of 'One O Clock Jump', with solos by Lester, Buddy, Joe, Marshall, Earl, Dicky, well just about everyone. Boy those cats can play.
I met the real Lester Young in the Diner back on Earth, so I know his penchant for jive talk. I leave him with the rest and go to see the management for our share of the gate.
Brian's representative on terra firma is Zeno, which I had forgotten, is his PA in Scrapships R Us, and my occasional girl friend. She looks stunning as usual in a metallic two piece silver thigh boots and chain mail yashmak, which she unhooks to let it hang from one side. My surprise on seeing her is evident. I Turn down Basie to reveal more of myself. Standing to her right is the biggest man I have ever seen that is in proportion to a regular guy.
I can't resist asking.
“Is he human?”
“Shur am; Guy Buddy at your service; and you must be Joe Coolz, inside that Basie skin.” He holds out a paw the size of a baseball glove. His handshake is light engulfing my whole palm digits and elbow.
“I know your hands are your living so I took it easy. I run things around here. Wish I could play myself but there isn't a piano big enough” He laughs and the glassware on the desk tinkles in unison. He turns to Zeno.
“I gave the takings to the little Miss here, first full house since we had Cliff Richard. He is something of a God on Scrapworld. It must be his ass. He laughs again.
Who is Cliff Richard, I think? Guy leaves almost bending double to miss the door jamb.
“You should see the size of his dick,” says Zeno. “Too big for me.”
“Cliff or him?”
Jo Newman Trumpet
Freddie Green Guitar
Lester Young Tenor sax
Buddy Tate Tenor Sax
Marshall Royal Alto sax
Earle warren Alto Sax
Rudy Rutherford Clarinet & Baritone sax
Al Killian Tromb
Dicky Wells Tromb
Eli Robinson Tromb
Walter page Bass
Jo Jones Drums
Some line up eh? Those of you who know will no doubt point out that some of the above never played together. But they were all in Basie's line up at some time. So who's complaining? Not the punters on Scrap Planet IV. Oh, didn't I say that it was Brian who got me the gig. Hidden depths, Brian. This scrap planet is somewhere in Ursa Minor. A mere tick away using the MWD. When we are all prosed and the chips in place, we are the Basie Band. Even Basie's wife Catherine Morgan couldn't tell us apart.
The Opera House on Scrap Planet IV, is based loosely on The Pompidou Centre in Paris France back on Earth, now a rusting edifice. That is to say all the parts are reconditioned bits from various Galactic Cruisers and Merchant Men, with all the functioning bits strapped onto the shell. The concert hall itself is lined with fabric gleaned from the interiors and sewn together, a magic tapestry of colour. We do the sound check, then go sight seeing, as far as the nearest bar. Everywhere else is too noisy with the sound of metal being crushed, sorted and packaged for export. The bar is decorated with holograms of famous jazzers through the centuries right up the latest graduates from Leeds Jazz College. This all bodes well for our set. Todays graphic designers are a clever bunch, animating old photos that were originally hung on London's famous Ronnie Scotts walls, even one of me relaxing.
The surprise is that the audience is dressed up in 1940's clothes. We start up with 'Motion Swing', and the seats move back to reveal a dance floor. The scrappers take to it and the fun begins.
One 'o Clock jump, Jumpin at the woodside, April in Paris, All of me, we just keep rolling those hits. Soon the seats disappear into the walls and all the auditorium is a dance floor filled with jiving bodies.
Jimmy Rushing calms it down a bit with 'Going to Chicago' but mostly it is a gas. We finish with an extended version of 'One O Clock Jump', with solos by Lester, Buddy, Joe, Marshall, Earl, Dicky, well just about everyone. Boy those cats can play.
I met the real Lester Young in the Diner back on Earth, so I know his penchant for jive talk. I leave him with the rest and go to see the management for our share of the gate.
Brian's representative on terra firma is Zeno, which I had forgotten, is his PA in Scrapships R Us, and my occasional girl friend. She looks stunning as usual in a metallic two piece silver thigh boots and chain mail yashmak, which she unhooks to let it hang from one side. My surprise on seeing her is evident. I Turn down Basie to reveal more of myself. Standing to her right is the biggest man I have ever seen that is in proportion to a regular guy.
I can't resist asking.
“Is he human?”
“Shur am; Guy Buddy at your service; and you must be Joe Coolz, inside that Basie skin.” He holds out a paw the size of a baseball glove. His handshake is light engulfing my whole palm digits and elbow.
“I know your hands are your living so I took it easy. I run things around here. Wish I could play myself but there isn't a piano big enough” He laughs and the glassware on the desk tinkles in unison. He turns to Zeno.
“I gave the takings to the little Miss here, first full house since we had Cliff Richard. He is something of a God on Scrapworld. It must be his ass. He laughs again.
Who is Cliff Richard, I think? Guy leaves almost bending double to miss the door jamb.
“You should see the size of his dick,” says Zeno. “Too big for me.”
“Cliff or him?”
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