One of the pieces on this album is called "The Blues Machine," which could stand as a description of the big band Count Basie operated for half a century. In the 1983 edition, Basie molded the talents of a mixture of veterans and relative youngsters to produce the immediately identifiable Basie sound and spirit. Sam Nestico's arrangements, so vital to the band in Basie's final years, are featured on four tracks. On the remaining two, Basie heads up a small unit with saxophonists Chris Woods and Kenny King, the rapidly developing young trumpeter Bob Summers, and guitar wizard Joe Pass.

Bluesville, 88 Basie Street, Contractor's Blues, The Blues Machine, Katy, Sunday at the Savoy

with Booty Wood, Grover Mitchell, Dennis Wilson, Bill Hughes, Bob Summers, Sonny Cohn, Frank Szabo, Dale Carley, Jim Crawford, John Williams, Eric Dixon, Eric Schneider, Kenny Hing, Danny Turner, Christopher Woods, Joe Pass, Cleveland Eaton, Dennis Mackrel