Afrique (album)


Afrique is a 1971 studio album by Count Basie and his orchestra, arranged & conducted by Oliver Nelson released by the Flying Dutchman label

Reception

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
  1. "Step Right Up" – 4:15
  2. "Hobo Flats" – 6:13
  3. "Gypsy Queen" – 4:00
  4. "Love Flower" – 2:53
  5. "Afrique" – 3:06
  6. "Kilimanjaro" – 6:52
  7. "African Sunrise" – 5:11
  8. "Japan" – 5:05

    Personnel

;The Count Basie Orchestra: