On Sept. 18, 1965, the Count Basie Orchestra appeared on the BBC’s Show Of The Week, performing 45 minutes of uninterrupted music.
The band at the time included such soloists as trumpeter Al Aarons, trombonist Al Grey, altoist Marshall Royal, tenor-saxophonist Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Eric Dixon on tenor and flute, drummer Rufus “Speedy” Jones and of course Basie on piano.
The unbeatable orchestra playing flawless ensembles and colorful solos, performs “All Of Me,” “Flight Of The Foo Birds,” “The Midnight Sun Never Sets,” “Blues For Ilean,” “Jumpin’ At The Woodside,” “I Needs To Be Beed With,” “April In Paris,” “Little Darlin’,” “Whirly Bird,” and a brief “One O’Clock Jump.”
“Whirly Bird,” which features a ferocious solo by Lockjaw and quite a display from Rufus Jones (who shows how he got the “Speedy” nickname), is one of the many highpoints of this classic show.
-Scott Yanow
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