Count Basie – Evergreens – LP

Count Basie’s Evergreens reflects of his orchestra’s swing mastery, featuring polished arrangements and spirited improvisation. The album offers timeless jazz standards like “Blues In My Heart,” penned by Benny Carter and Irving Mills, and the heartfelt “I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You,” written by Victor Young, Bing Crosby, and Ned Washington. While the band navigates these familiar tunes, their effortless swing creates fresh moments that remind you why Basie’s style remains a blueprint for big band jazz. It’s a set where the classics feel comfortably at home—like old friends dropping by for a late-night jam. This 1972 Groove Merchant pressing presents Evergreens as it was titled for the U.S. market, originally released as Basic Basie. The vinyl is graded VG+, meaning it carries some light paper scuffs and minor surface marks typical of everyday use, but nothing that should overpower the music’s flow. If you’re looking for a solid copy to hear the Count Basie Orchestra swing through these standards, this pressing offers a straightforward listen without fuss or frills—a record that knows its place in the rack and sticks to it.