April in Paris (album)
| April in Paris | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1957 | |||
| Recorded | July 26, 1955 and January 4 & 5, 1956 Fine Sound, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 73:45 CD reissue with bonus tracks | |||
| Label | Verve MGV 8012 | |||
| Producer | Norman Granz | |||
| Count Basie chronology | ||||
| ||||
April in Paris is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra, his first released on the Verve label, recorded in 1955 and 1956.[1][2][3][4]
The title track was included in the soundtrack of the 2008 video game release Grand Theft Auto IV on the fictitious in-game jazz music radio station "JNR 108.5 (Jazz Nation Radio)".
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [8] |
Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3 stars stating "April in Paris is typical Basie fare of the period: bustling charts, leathery solos and pinpoint timing".[7]
Track listing
Original 1957 release
- "E.Y. "Yip" Harburg) – 3:47
- "Corner Pocket" (Freddie Green) – 5:15
- "Didn't You?" (Frank Foster) – 4:43
- "Sweetie Cakes" (Ernest Brooks "Ernie" Wilkins) – 3:58
- "Magic" (Frank Wess) – 3:06
- "Shiny Stockings" (Frank Foster) – 5:14
- "What Am I Here For" (Duke Ellington, Frankie Laine) – 3:19
- "Midgets" (Joe Newman) – 3:13
- "Mambo Inn" (Mario Bauzá, Edgar Melvin Sampson, Bobby Woodlen) – 3:23
- "Dinner with Friends" (Neal Hefti) – 3:05
Bonus tracks on 1997 CD reissue
- "April In Paris" [2nd Take] (Duke, Harburg) - 3:45
- "Corner Pocket" [2nd Take] (Green) - 4:59
- "Didn't You?" [3rd Take] (Foster) - 4:50
- "Magic" [1st Take] (Wess) - 3:42
- "Magic" [2nd Take] (Wess) - 3:50
- "What Am I Here For?" [1st Take] (Ellington) - 4:06
- "Midgets" [4th Take] (Newman) - 3:11
- Recorded at Fine Sound in New York City on July 26, 1955 (tracks 1-4 and 11–13), January 4, 1956 (track 5-8 and 14–17) and January 5, 1956 (tracks 9 and 10)
Personnel
- Count Basie - piano
- Wendell Culley (tracks 1-7 & 9–16), Reunald Jones (tracks 1-7 & 9–16), Thad Jones (tracks 1-7 & 9–16), Joe Newman - trumpet
- Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Benny Powell - trombone (tracks 1-7 & 9–16)
- Marshall Royal - alto saxophone, clarinet(tracks 1-7 & 9–16)
- Bill Graham - alto saxophone (tracks 1-7 & 9–16)
- Frank Wess - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
- Frank Foster - tenor saxophone, clarinet (tracks 1-7 & 9–16)
- Charlie Fowlkes - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet(tracks 1-7 & 9–16)
- Freddie Green - guitar
- Eddie Jones - bass
- Sonny Payne - drums
- percussion(track 9)
- William "Wild Bill" Davis (tracks 1 & 11), Neal Hefti (track 10), Frank Foster (tracks 3, 6, 7, 9, 13 & 16), Joe Newman (tracks 8 & 17), Ernie Wilkins (track 2, 4, 12) - arranger
References
- ^ Edwards, D. & Callahan, M. Discography of the Verve, Clef, Down Home and Norgran Labels, accessed November 20, 2015
- ^ Kitora, R., Count Basie Discography, accessed November 20, 2015
- ^ Verve Records Catalog: 8000 series, accessed November 20, 2015
- ^ Big Band Paradise, accessed November 20, 2015
- ^ AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0.
- ISBN 978-0195313734.
