Recorded less than half a year before Count Basie died, this session has the zest, drive, humor, power, and magic that Basie put into every endeavor of his half-century career. His inseparable rhythm sidekick guitarist Freddie Green was the only colleague still with him from the band's trailblazing days, but Basie eagerly welcomed talented new players into his organization. Whatever their stylistic orientation when they arrived, Basie molded them to fit a way of making music that no other big band could imitate. He achieved a contradiction: absolute swing and total relaxation at the same time. That was the secret of the Basie band, and it was as powerful in the 1980s as it was in the 1930s.

Put It Right Here, By My Side, Blue Chip, Fancy Pants, Hi-Five, Time Stream, Samantha, Strike Up the Band

with Dale Carley, Sonny Cohn, Jim Crawford, Bob Summers, Frank Szabo, Bill Hughes, Grover Mitchell, Dennis Wilson, Mitchell "Booty" Wood, Eric Dixon, Kenny Hing , Danny Turner, Chris Woods, Johnny Williams, Freddie Green, Cleveland Eaton, Dennis Mackrel