1959 · Album
Breakfast Dance and Barbecue
Recorded 1959, Disc Jockey convention, Florida · Roulette
Two A.M. Looseness at a Convention
The band played at 2 a.m., and the late hour kept everyone loose and swinging.
By 1959, Count Basie was already a legend—nearly three decades into a career that defined big band swing. This live recording from a DJ convention in Florida finds him not trying to prove anything, just showing up with his orchestra and vocalist Joe Williams to play some dance music at an ungodly hour. The result is exactly what you'd expect from a band that confident: relaxed, propulsive, and entirely uninterested in impressing anyone. The real story here is what happens when you strip away the studio polish and let these musicians do what they've been doing since before some of the audience was born. Freddie Green's guitar locks in with Eddie Jones on bass and Sonny Payne on drums to create a groove so solid it barely needs the horns, though Frank Foster and Billy Mitchell on tenors, Marshall Royal and Frank Wess on altos, and Charlie Fowlkes on baritone are there anyway, trading phrases like they've done it a thousand times—because they have. The trumpet section, anchored by Harry "Sweets" Edison, Thad Jones, and Joe Newman, has that sharp Basie tone, precise and driving. Williams sings without strain, which is the mark of a pro working a crowd that's there to dance, not genuflect. This isn't the album to prove Basie mattered. It's the sound of a master at work, doing the job he'd always done, and doing it better than anyone else could.
Who's playing
Eddie Jonesbass
Count Basiepiano
Freddie Greenguitar
Frank Fostertenor saxophone
Charlie Fowlkesbaritone saxophone
Billy Mitchelltenor saxophone
Marshall Royalalto saxophone
Frank Wessalto saxophone
Wendell Culleytrumpet
Harry “Sweets” Edisontrumpet
Thad Jonestrumpet
Joe Newmantrumpet
Snooky Youngtrumpet
Henry Cokertrombone
Al Greytrombone
Benny Powelltrombone
Sonny Paynedrums
Where next?
More by Joe Williams
Everyday I Have the Blues 1959
THE GREATEST!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards 1955
Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones / Mel Lewis: The Jazz Orchestra 1968
Jump For Joy 1963
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
