The Count Basie Orchestra - Basie / The Band Of Distinction (1955)

Basie (reissued as The Band of Distinction) is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie recorded in 1954 and originally released on the Clef label. the album should not be confused with Basie's 1958 album which became known as The Atomic Mr. Basie.

Count Basie was among the most important bandleaders of the swing era. With the exception of a brief period in the early '50s, he led a big band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later, and the band continued to perform after he died, led in turn by Thad Jones, Frank Foster, and Grover Mitchell. Basie's orchestra was characterized by a light, swinging rhythm section that he led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing. Basie was not a composer like Duke Ellington or an important soloist like Benny Goodman. His instrument was his band, which was considered the epitome of swing and became broadly influential on jazz. Basie was admired as much by musicians as by listeners, and he displayed a remarkable consistency in a bandleading career that lasted long after swing became an archival style of music. His lengthy career resulted in a large discography spread across all of the major labels and quite a few minor ones as well.

Count Basie - piano, organ
Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones, Thad Jones, Joe Newman - trumpet
Henry Coker, Benny Powell - trombone
Bill Hughes - trombone, piano
Marshall Royal - alto saxophone, clarinet
Ernie Wilkins - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, arranger
Frank Wess - tenor saxophone
Frank Foster - tenor saxophone, arranger
Charlie Fowlkes - baritone saxophone
Freddie Green - guitar
Eddie Jones - bass
Gus Johnson - drums
Manny Albam, Buster Harding, Neal Hefti - arranger

Tracklist:
1. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Blues Backstage (04:36)
2. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Down For The Count (06:03)
3. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Eventide (04:41)
4. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Ain't Misbehavin' (03:44)
5. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Perdido (04:55)
6. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Ska-di-dle-dee-bee-doo (03:37)
7. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Two Franks (03:17)
8. Count Basie and his Orchestra - Rails (05:57)