'All About That Basie' brings together legendary artists from across jazz and pop (including Kurt Elling and Stevie Wonder) to join and celebrate the iconic Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Scotty Barnhart. It's a collection of classic material, plus a twist on a few modern hits (Adele, Leonard Cohen, Stevie Wonder, and others).
The album was produced by eight-time Grammy award winning producer and former Basie drummer Gregg Field. To help accomplish that mission, Barnhart and Field put together an amazing array of guest talent that includes multi-Grammy winning jazz vocal group Take 6, jazz singer Kurt Elling, organist Joey DeFrancesco, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Jon Faddis, Basie band alumni vocalists Carmen Bradford and Jamie Davis.
Stevie Wonder guests on harmonica on his own "My Cherie Amour", which is masterfully arranged in the style of the Basie / Neal Hefti classic, " Lil' Darlin'
Others tracks include a foot stomping, swinging version of the Joe Williams classic, "Everyday I Have the Blues," featuring multi-Grammy winning vocal group Take 6 adding their contemporary vocal arrangement on top of the classic Basie hit.
Plus a "new" entry into the Basie songbook, Earth, Wind and Fire's hit "Can't Hide Love", which is re-imagined with a sophisticated harmonic sheen and a swinging pulse all delivered in classic Basie style.
When incorporating new material into the Basie repertoire, Barnhart says: "I look for tunes with singable melodies and interesting harmonies. Rhythmically, the orchestra is going to take care of the rest."
