The Atomic Mr. Basie

First listen, but not really first listen. This is pretty great. I tend to like more solo and trio jazz. This must be big band jazz at its finest.

smooth

The way my face lit up when I realised this was a purely instrumental album, don't want any of that 50s singing please! It's somewhere between a 4 and a 5 for me, these songs are an absolute delight to listen to, but it does get a little tiring listening to a whole album of them.

not really a big band jazz person but this was still fun

I love big band music ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This was fantastic! I love all types of jazz but, other than Duke Ellington, I rarely listen to big band. This has an energy to it that really works. Put it on when your cooking or playing a frenetic video game.

Very solid big band jazz

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘔𝘳. 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦 is exactly what I would expect from a top-class big band: sharp arrangements, powerful brass, and a rhythm section that keeps everything moving with effortless precision.

There is very little to criticise from a technical standpoint. The problem is that I admire the playing more than I connect with the music itself. The album sounds polished, confident, and consistently strong, but it rarely surprises me.

A very good big-band recording, even if it never becomes much more than that for me.

Perkier than some of the other jazz albums. Like it was made for dancing. Not sure how the most destructive manmade object has anything to do with the sound. It all sounds the same to me, like one long suite that has its fast and slow moments.

That is my weak link for jazz; I feel like I need to see it live to fully experience it.

This jazz album (all instrumental) is high-energy, sultry, smooth, and swinging. It's a good-time listen all around.

Favorite track(s): After Supper, Flight of the Foo Birds, Double-O

Maybe the compositions are too simple but swing music has yet to excite me like most jazz music does. Not bad obviously but really immemorable when compared with a lot of other jazz I have listened to.

4
If I was in the 50's this is what I'd want to be listening to

My issue with this type of jazz is that the brass section overwhelms everything else. I really enjoy the quieter moments where you can hear the bass player busily laying down the groove, or The Count's intricate piano playing, or the drummer, but all too frequently it is drowned out by the 'BLAHHH BLAHHH BLAAHHHH' of the horns. Maybe halve the horn section and tone them down a bit, and I'd like this a lot more.

Now that's how you open an album. Had my ass moving fast at 8am. Slowed down after there, was a bit up and down but mostly good. Got a bit samey but fun overall. 4/5.

I have heard lots’ of 50s albums here with varying degrees of enjoyment but coming across this Big Band opus was like running into an old friend, you’d forgotten how much you missed. Each track was a different mood from jubilant to sultry, almost as if the instruments could speak.

love

Hi, I'm Ricky Bobby and if you don't like Count Basie, then fuck you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Atomic Mr Basie is the best big band jazz can possibly get. I have always heard this guy's name and always heard good things about him but i never remembered any of his songs that well. However, i'm glad i did though as these songs are so good. They have that fun jazz energy that i could want without ever feeling disorganized or messy and it is all done by some great musicians from Count Basie on the piano to Eddie Jones on bass and all the trumpet, trombone and reeds players all adding to one very fun experience. This is also one of those albums where while the regular tracks don't stand out on their own but as they come together, it makes for a great listening experience. Got nothing else to say, just the best jazz album here and the best album from the 50s here.
Best Song: Fantail
Worst Song: Duet

Another one to file under "big band jazz albums that I can appreciate but can't see myself ever loving". That said, this was a nice, pleasant listen, I'd have no qualms if it were to soundtrack certain activities as background music 😉.