COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 934 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD can easily be divided into two. The first 14 selections are from 1945 and feature the Basie band at a time that Lucky Thompson and Buddy Tate were the tenor sax soloists, and the repertoire included such hot tunes as "Avenue C," "High Tide," and "Blue Skies"; a few of the selections are taken from V-Discs. The final six numbers have Illinois Jacquet taking over on tenor and include "Rambo" and the exciting "The King." Throughout, the Basie rhythm section swings as hard and as lightly as usual while the horn sections are full of lively players, including Harry "Sweets" Edison and Dicky Wells. Another strong entry in the Classics label's chronological study of the early Count Basie band. Scott Yanow