Paul Quinichette - Basie Reunion (Prestige)

Truth in advertising save for the absence of the titular Count, this jam session under the leadership of the Vice Pres offers meat and potatoes jazz in the best possible sense. Quinichette took hits and praise in near equal doses for his stylistic congruities with Lester Young. The four blowing vehicles from the Basie songbook circa a three year stretch starting in 1937 only cement the similarities. The rest of the band is assemblage of what are rightfully termed “Old” and “New Testament” factions. Nat Pierce, the lone Caucasian, has perhaps the most daunting role filling Basie’s post at the piano stool. His minimalist stride-tempered touch echoes that of the master while retaining an admirable individualist streak. Freddie Green, the Jones Eddie and Jo (no relation) are well seasoned pros at setting up swinging structures for the soloists. Of the horns, the lesser known Jack Washington stands out. Diminutive in frame, he has a bit of difficulty with the baritone’s physical dimensions, but his generously paced solos lack nothing in resolve. Trumpeters Buck Clayton and Shad Collins tussle regularly and mostly stick to open voicings for a combined brassy bite. Quinichette has several good showings on tenor, but the overall feel of the record is that of ensemble camaraderie. Leader’s privileges are only rarely invoked. Producer Esmond Edwards does double duty as session shutterbug and the tinted cover photo he snapped is more than suitable for poster-sized framing. The preponderance of Basie-led sessions of this ilk makes the platter a harder sell, but those with a few shekels to spare will still find them well spent in adding a copy to the shelf.