William Basie, born 1904, who later boldly called himself «Count» and thus raised himself to nobility, invented his music over seventy years ago. One does not hear that, however. Its unbelievable lightness, the laid-back coolness paired with high precision, Basie‘s maxim where less is almost always more, and the merciless swing, – all that ensnares as always. And add to all that a highly decorated vocal group of the quality of the «New York Voices», it gets the master to smile over yonder, push his captain’s hat back on his forehead, and lean back to bop along with a foot. And the audience had the same experience!

Beat Blaser