Count Basie Trio / For The First Time

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Throughout his career, Count Basie was modest about his own abilities as a pianist, and his success at streamlining his style to the bare essentials often made listeners underrate his playing talents. This 1974 session was a rarity, an opportunity for Basie to be featured in a trio setting (with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Louie Bellson), during which he provides enough variety to hold one's interest and enough technique to lead many to reassess his piano skills.

Count Basie Trio / For The First Time



For the First Time is a 1974 studio album by Count Basie, with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Louie Bellson. Basie, Brown and Bellson followed For the First Time with For the Second Time (1975). ^[3]


Track listing 

Track listing

1. "Baby Lawrence" (Count Basie) – 3:10
2. "Pres" (Basie) – 3:28
3. "I'll Always Be in Love With You" (Bud Green, Fred Ruby, Sam H. Stept) – 5:54
4. "Blues in the Church" (Basie) – 5:00
5. "Oh, Lady Be Good [Concept 1]" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 5:32
6. "Oh, Lady Be Good [Concept 2]" (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin) – 3:57
7. "Blues in the Alley" (Basie) – 6:44
8. "As Long as I Live" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 3:33
9. "Song of the Islands" (Charles E. King) – 4:51
10. "Royal Gardens Blues" (Clarence Williams, Spencer Williams) – 4:28
11. "(Un) Easy Does It" (Sy Oliver, Trummy Young) – 4:08
12. "O.P." (Basie) – 4:48

Personnel 

• Count Basie - piano
• Ray Brown - double bass
• Louie Bellson - drums

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