88 Basie Street - Sammy Nestico Big Band

[AndrewMeronek]

I want to share a great studio recording of what I think is one of Sammy Nestico's best charts. I'm working through the lead bone part in a local big band - and I can toot my own horn fairly well, but this chart is TOUGH.

Bill Watrous has album credits on this, and I'm pretty sure this is him on lead bone.

I think it's interesting to compare this recording also with what Basie did. The feel here is excellent, but they did some things differently than Basie's Orchestra.

[AndrewMeronek]

For reference here's the Basie recording:

[JTeagarden]

Bob Ojeda (long-time Basie alum) and I ran a big band together in Chicago, he told me so many great stories about being with Basie, and how so much of how they played was not notated, it was more "in the air," and would morph over time.

[tbdana]

I can toot my own horn fairly well, but this chart is TOUGH.

Bill Watrous has album credits on this, and I'm pretty sure this is him on lead bone.

I actually don't think that sounds like Watrous at all on lead. But it does sound like Chauncey Welsch, so maybe it's him.

I'm curious what you find "tough" about the chart. Do you mean technically, or something else? To me, the toughest part of this chart for most of us would be the musicality of it. There's a particular groove that you have to be really tuned into. I love this chart.

[AndrewMeronek]

I actually don't think that sounds like Watrous at all on lead. But it does sound like Chauncey Welsch, so maybe it's him.

Thanks!

I'm curious what you find "tough" about the chart. Do you mean technically, or something else? To me, the toughest part of this chart for most of us would be the musicality of it. There's a particular groove that you have to be really tuned into. I love this chart.

Yes, generally. There's an unusually high amount of counterpoint in this one for a "swing" chart - a lot going on, and maintaining an appropriate feel and not stiffening up to crank out the licks can be tough. There's also required a lot of listening across the group: trombones can be playing with (or against) flutes or tenor saxes and we have to adjust to the balance appropriately.