2008-09-04 -- 5/5:: The wizard of the sound!
Count Bassie's stylistic refinement was perhaps his ace of Aces. His astonishing ability to ornament determined piece of the repertoire whether jazz classic or not was always his distinctive trademark.

He embodied together with his partner and close friend Duke Ellington a friendly rivalry and both of them impressed the great bands of this flavoured and coloured jazz rhythms with that unequalled taste.

This is one of these emblematic album that you may not do without.

2008-02-11 -- 5/5:: Who Wouldn't Want This?
This is Count Basie at his finest hour!! Great Songs, great tunes, great arrangements and they are having fun doing it. You can just feel it. This was when bands were truely great. Pick this up for a blast from the past and one of the greatest bandmasters!!

The Time Keeper

2007-03-24 -- 5/5:: How can you go wrong?
Great collection from one of the masters of swing (obviously!). An excellent introduction if you just want a single cd from Basie in your collection. Great material.

2007-01-10 -- 5/5:: WOW
I purchased this cd for my parents as a gift. They love it!

2002-06-24 -- 5/5:: TOP NOTCH!!
This is INDEED Basie's finest hour! It pulls together AWESOME recordings from 1937 to 1969 and contrasts the OLD and NEW Testament bands - both bands are superb. Also, the sound is excellent on ALL recordings even on the ones which are now over 60 yrs. old! The version of Lil Darlin is the best recorded one I've ever heard - it beats the original from the ATOMIC Basie(only by a hair though cause the version on this CD is in STEREO and has SWEETS EDISON on it.)

Whether you're a longtime fan or just being introduced to Basie, GET THIS CD and try to catch the BASIE band live!! They're as good now as when Basie was alive!