CiTR

The Basie Band of the 1950s was sometimes called "The Atomic Band" as one of their hit records had a photo of an atomic bomb blast on it. It was recorded in 1957 and called "Basie Plays Hefti" (Count Basie plays the arrangements of Neal Hefti). This album heard tonight is basically the same band with a few minor personnel changes. It was recorded on May 31,1959 during a one-nighter at the Americana Hotel in Miami, Florida for the Disc Jockey Convention. The band played to a packed house and dance floor starting at 2am and went on until breakfast time, hence the title. The personnel was full pf Basie regulars. The two Franks, Wess (tenor and flute) and Foster (tenor) plus the great Billy Mitchell also on tenor saxophone.. Trumpets: Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Wendell Culley and Snooky Young. Trombones were Al Grey, Henry Coker and Benny Powell, The rhythm section beginning with Basie at the piano, Freddie Green on guitar, Eddie Jones on bass and the amazing Sonny Payne on drums. A great inspired performance by the Basie crew and well recorded to boot. Basie basics tonight!