this is musical genius. The minimalist, sparse, almost a cappela arrangement is the test of talent. Almost anyone can sing if there's enough background noise to cover a lack of talent. Love Basie and his carefully placed cords. Love the call and response. The song (Basie and Jimmy Rushing) is brilliant.
The last time I saw Joe perform was at the Hollywood Florida Jazz Festival in 1989 I think. Awesome Guy! The first time was in Birdland around 1957! Rest easy Joe ~ See you when I get there!
He and Count were masters! Joe's phrasing on a simple blues is just genius! I remember seeing Count at Avery Fischer Hall with Joe and Milt Jackson as guests with the band. Man! I wish I had got to see them on the road when they were together all the time. Must have been just lovely every day and night!
@UCU4k6nyi-Dk1hyAP9LpIc-A I saw Basie with Joe Williams in London in about 1960. It was a pretty good concert. Basie came back about 3 years later, with Jimmy Rushing.The band was okay in the first half. When Rushing came on for the second half and started singing the band lit up, and between them they generated a swing that just wasna there before he came on, and it was a marvellous second half of the concert. Rushing is a more raw, direct singer than Williams. I hate that label "Blues Shouter". It's misleading because Rushing is far more than just that. I prefer Bluesy-sounding numbers in general, and Rushing is peerless in that field. Williams just isna as good. A lot of Joe's renditions of this song is taken up with talking narrative, interesting and well done, but Jimmy Rushing has that extra something. More grit, more direct, more swing. Basie declared that there was no better band singer than Rushing. There are a couple of different versions of this song by Rushing on YT. One of them is live with the Benny Goodman band. Interesting comparisons. I'm assuming Williams made up the spoken narratives and interjected comments himself. I admit they do add something to a basically simple Blues song.
I wish I said what Sue Hausmann said. Joe, Basie and the band are brilliant here. All I can add is that I was fortunate enough to see the Count and, separately and together, Joe, live several times. I'm lucky. Thank God or You Tube!
+Raphael Nelson Also, mine - Chi Town! Great music has come from that city along with many great musicians. Love you, Joe - been listening to you for many, many years.
Joe Williams fans, if you want to giggle, check out YT vid of George Kirby at Grossinger's..he does Joe spot-on. It is delicious to watch. And of course a tip of the hat to the man himself!! RIP y'all..
Check out the earliest recording I know of "Chicago" with Jimmy Rushing and Basie. You can chart it through the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross version to Joe and the Count here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HdOXarn1HL0.html
