Impressive as was its pantheon of great soloists over the years, the stock-in-trade of the band operated by Count Basie for five decades was swing; unadulterated, captivating, addictive swing. Although in trombonist Al Grey, trumpeter Waymon Reed, and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest this 1977 edition of the Basie Band had three superb soloists, the band is the star. Powered by the nonpareil Basie rhythm section of the leader on piano, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist John Duke, and the ebullient Butch Miles on drums, this is the legendary Basie swing that is still the standard of jazz rhythm.

The Heat's On, Freckle Face, Splanky, The More I See You, A Night in Tunisia, Hittin' 12, Bag of Dreams, Things Ain't What They Used to Be, I Needs to Be Bee'd With, Li'l Darlin', Jumpin' at the Woodside, One O'Clock Jump

with Al Grey, Mel Wanzo, Bill Hughes, Waymon Reed, Sonny Cohn, Jimmy Forrest, Eric Dixon, Charlie Fowlkes, Freddie Green, Butch Miles, and others