For those who don't own the 1992 GRP box set documenting this era of Basie, or who may not have pockets deep enough to indulge in Mosaic's recent Basie/Prez collection, this Acrobat release is a boon.

Covering just two years from January 1937 to January 1939, it contains pretty much all you need to appreciate why this edition of the pianist's band was rightly regarded as a game-changer. Although there may be those who question why we need yet another edition of material long familiar to record buyers, it's worth remembering that somewhere there may be millennial jazz fans who've never heard a note of this music. I for one cannot imagine a richer feast for anyone curious as to the ingredients of ‘swing’. Naturally, all the ‘hits’ are here; ‘Swinging The Blues’, ‘Jumping at the Woodside, ‘Topsy’ and ‘One O'Clock Jump’ among them. And then there are such iconic Lester Young vehicles as ‘Every Tub’ and ‘Cherokee’ on which the saxophonist's blithe inventions presage those of Charlie Parker. But where this release scores is in its examples of the unit's simultaneous forays into ‘commercial’ dance band repertoire, much of it handled by vocalists Jimmy Rushing and Helen Humes. This being pre-war Basie though, even these frequently trite novelties are full of charm, their period feel leavened by the timelessness of the ‘All American Rhythm Section’ of the leader, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones; and by the pithy contributions of Young, in particular (hear ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’).

In clear sound, with helpful booklet notes and available at bargain price, this makes a great introduction to anyone who may only know Basie from the Atomic period onwards. Highly recommended.