Afrique is a 1971 studio album by Count Basie and his orchestra, arranged & conducted by Oliver Nelson released by the Flying Dutchman labelJazzlists: Flying Dutchman 10100 series discography, accessed November 11, 2019Both Sides Now: Flying Dutchman Label Discography, accessed November 11, 2019Payne, D. Oliver Nelson: A Discography 1967-1975, accessed November 11, 2019
Reception
AllMusic reviewer Bruce Eder stated: "In late 1970, more than 35 years into his career as a bandleader, Count Basie, working with producer Bob Thiele and arranger/conductor/saxman Oliver Nelson, went into the studio and cut this album of big band blues built on recent compositions -- and they made it sound cutting-edge and as urgent as anything the man had ever turned his talent toward. ... Afrique is one of a handful of absolutely essential post-big band-era albums by him".
Track listing All compositions by Oliver Nelson except where noted "Step Right Up" – 4:15 "Hobo Flats" – 6:13 "Gypsy Queen" – 4:00 (Gabor Szabo) "Love Flower" – 2:53 (Albert Ayler) "Afrique" – 3:06 "Kilimanjaro" – 6:52 "African Sunrise" – 5:11 "Japan" – 5:05 (Pharoah Sanders)
Personnel The Count Basie Orchestra Bill Adkins - alto sax Bob Ashton - alto, baritone & tenor sax, flute Count Basie - organ, piano Paul Cohen - trumpet, flugelhorn George Cohn - trumpet, flugelhorn Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - tenor sax Eric Dixon - flute, tenor sax Steven Galloway - trombone Freddie Green - guitar Bill Hughes - trombone Harold Jones - drums Norman Keenan - bass Richard Landrum - percussion Hubert Laws - flute Buddy Lucas - harmonica Pete Minger - trumpet, flugelhorn Sonny Morgan - bongos Oliver Nelson - arranger, conductor, tenor sax Bobby Plater - alto sax, flute Cecil Payne - baritone sax, flute Waymon Reed - trumpet, flugelhorn Warren Smith, Jr. - drums, percussion, vibes Mel Wanzo - trombone John Watson - trombone John Williams - bass
References