The world-famous jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie helped redefine music several times over and set the preconditions for jazz innovations, rock and roll, and popular American music, and today, a whole new host of colorful talents have mixed with Basie’s legendary sound and influence as part of a brand new album called Late Night Basie. Releasing on Primary Wave Music label and distributed by Green Hill Music, Late Night Basie captures the essence of the man and his music with each song a modern-day interpretation of a Count Basie classic.
With Late Night Basie, visionary producer Paul Peck wanted to find and highlight the intersection of Count Basie through seemingly unrelated artists. The resulting album features a broad swath of genre-spanning musicians, from hip hop visionary Talib Kweli appearing with funk torchbearers Lettuce to New Orleans’ own Soul Rebels with Nicholas Payton and Cuban wunderkind Cimafunk to blues rock sister duo Larkin Poe with first-call players Will Lee and Shawn Pelton; not to mention the modern day Count Basie Orchestra.
“This recording proves once again that Count Basie’s music stands the test of time with its ever-expanding appeal and adaptability,” says Scotty Barnhart, director of the Count Basie Orchestra. “There is something here for all ages and tastes which is exactly how Basie would want it.” Barnhart and the rest of the Count Basie Orchestra, along with vocalist Carmen Bradford, are taking the stage for five nights at New York’s iconic Birdland Jazz Club on May 23-27. A full list of Count Basie Orchestra concert dates can be found below.
The latest single from this project is the Basie classic “Blue & Sentimental,” in the expert hands of Larkin Poe (Feat. Will Lee & Shawn Pelton). Click here to listen and click here for a few words from Larkin Poe regarding what Basie means to them as musicians.
Fans can stream or purchase Late Night Basie in its entirety today at this link. For more information, please visit CountBasie.com.
Late Night Basie Tracklist:
“Didn’t You” Lettuce (Feat. Talib Kweli)
“One O’Clock Jump” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jazzmeia Horn & Ray Angry)
“Blue & Sentimental” - Larkin Poe (Feat. Will Lee & Shawn Pelton)
“M-Squad” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Terence Blanchard)
“Jumpin’ at the Woodside” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jimmy Vivino & Ray Angry)
“St. Thomas” - The Soul Rebels (Feat. Nicholas Payton, Cimafunk & Weedie Braimah)
“One O’Clock Jump” (Bonus track) - Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists*
*winners of DownBeat Magazine’s inaugural Count Basie Contest.
Upcoming Concert Dates for the Count Basie Orchestra (Directed by Scotty Barnhart):
May 20 - Boston, MA - Calderwood Studio at GBH Boston^
May 23-27 - New York, NY - Birdland Jazz Club*
June 9 - Boone, NC - Appalachian Theatre of the High Country*
August 12 - Denver, CO - Balistreri Vineyards*
August 20 - Stowe, VT - Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow*
^with guest vocalist Diane Schuur
*with guest vocalist Carmen Bradford
