Jersey Jazz (June 2025)
by Joe Lang
Many artists have tried to adapt rock songs to a jazz setting with mixed results. Vocalist Deborah Silver approached Scotty Barnhart with the idea of recording some classic rock songs with The Count Basie Orchestra, led by Barnhart. He dug the idea, and the result is Basie Rocks! (Green Hill – 6559). The lineup of songs includes “Paint it, Black” by the Rolling Stones, “Benny and the Jets” by Elton John, “Baby, I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton, who adds his guitar to the track “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell, “Band on the Run” by Paul McCartney, “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles, “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night, “Fly Like an Eagle” by Steve Miller, “Every Breath You Take” by Sting, “Old Time Rock & Roll” by Bob Seeger, and “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh. The arrangers—John Clayton, Barnhart, Andy Farber and Kris Johnson—have done a marvelous job of taking these songs and writing swinging big band arrangements in the Basie style. Silver does a fine job of making this material sound natural in these settings. She has vocal assistance on two tracks, Kurt Elling on “Tainted Love” and Wycliffe Gordon on “Old Time Rock and Roll,” who also adds some trombone as only he can do. Basie Rocks! is a challenging idea brought winningly to life.