When this album was recorded, Basie had just finished about seven years of collaborations with singers, vocal groups, and rock stars, all with varying degrees of success. His orchestra even recorded two albums of Beatle tunes. However, this album put Basie right smack dab in the middle of where he belonged, in the world of straight ahead swing (as the title so aptly discribes). All soloists are high level and very much in the style and tradition. The drumming of Harold Jones is impeccable, and sparkling. This album has become a classic, for all of the before mentioned reasons. It is stongly recommended for all Basie fans and especially jazz ensemble directors around the world. We should all be indebted to Grover Mitchell, the lead trombone player in the band, for introducing Basie to Sammy Nestico, the composer and arranger for the date and for many others to follow. Their collaborations become the most important and significant since Basie worked with Neal Hefti from the mid-fifties to early sixties. Nestico's compositions are very substantive and his arrangements have never been better. Check out how he developes the arrangement of "It's Oh So Nice" from a four note melody. GREAT, GREAT ALBUM!! FIVE STARS!!!!!
-Clarence Acox, Seattle WA.-