Basie Meets Bond - Count Basie > Reviews > Live and Let Jazz

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Bond and Basie, together !
Disadvantages:	No vocals, no new rearrangements

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Few films have had such an impact as those featuring 007 himself. And this impact extends into the musical world. The instantly recognisable themes that have accompanied James Bond's exploits owe as much to the musical credentials of the artists as to the fame of the films themselves.
At first the thought of 'replaying' these numbers in a jazz style may seem like sacrilege. But considering the fact that Count Basie, one of the greatest jazz pianists, composers and conductors ever, is at the helm, we can rest assured in the ability of the musicianship. Further, the very nature of the tracks chosen make their 'jazzing up' a not unachieveable goal.
Throughout the album the instrumentation is of the highest quality. Strong solos and improvisation are supported by delicate and subtle backing from the Count and the rest of his orchestra.The compilation features the most recognisable Bond sounds - '007', 'James Bond Theme', 'Goldfinger', 'Dr. No's Fantasy' - with a nice balance brought through others such as 'Kingston Calypso', 'Underneath the Mango Tree', and 'Girl Trouble'.
The style of jazz is clearly Basie's - a big band style with great emphasised dynamics. To my mind this suggests just how good Basie is - yes, we know the Bond tracks inside out, but here they become something else, something new, whilst still remaining the charm that made them great in the first place.
If I was to express one limitation of this collection then it would focus upon the originality of the application to jazz. The tracks here are as found in the films, and no attempts have been made to rework or rearrange them in any way. This is a shame, I would trust Basie's ability to bring further life to these classics through structural reorganisation. However, it is a minor point and at the end of the day the originals themselves are still great works.
Basie fans will love this compilation. Bond fans should love this compilation - although admittedly, those who are not also fans of jazz may want to stay clear of it.