Freddie Green, Count Basie's long-time rhythm guitarist, recorded just one album as a leader—Mr. Rhythm, for RCA in December 1955. Green's tenure with Basie date back to March 1937.
On Mr. Rhythm, Green assembled an all-star group that was arranged like a pocket version of Basie's band, complete with Nat Pierce on piano: Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Al Cohn (ts-3,cl,bass-cl-1,arr), Nat Pierce (p), Freddie Green (g), Milt Hinton (b), Jo Jones (d), Osie Johnson (d-2) replaces Jones, and Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins (arr).
Here are the tracks in order, with corresponding players and arrangers above:
- Up in the Blues (ac arr,2,3)
- Down for Double (ac arr)
- Back and Forth (ew arr,2,3)
- Free and Easy (ma arr,2,3)
- Learnin' the Blues (ma arr)
- Feed Bag (ma arr,2,3)
- Something's Gotta Give (ac arr,1)
- Easy Does It (ma arr)
- Little Red (ew arr,2,3)
- Swingin' Back (ew arr)
- A Date With Ray (ew arr,1)
- When You Wish Upon a Star (ew arr,1)
Here's the complete Mr. Rhythm without ad interruptions...
Other ad-free Backgrounders in my series:
- Zoot Sims Plays Bossa Nova, go here.
- Lee Morgan: Lee-Way, go here.
- Bossa Nova for Swinging Lovers, go here.
- Leon Spencer: Louisiana Slim, go here.
- Bossa Nova Modern Quartet: Bossa Nova Jazz Samba, go here.
- Bill Evans & Luiz Eça: Piano Four Hands, go here.
- Ray Brown Trio: Don't Get Sassy, go here.
- Os Tatuis: Os Tatuis, go here.
- Waltel Branco: Mancini Tambem É Samba, go here.
- Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini, go here.
- Conjunto Copacabana Bossa: Bossa, go here.
- Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Swings Lightly, go here.
- Charles Earland: Charles Earland, go here.
- Kenny Burrell: Crash! w/ Jack McDuff, go here.
- Jack McDuff: The Heatin' System, go here.
- Horace Silver: Horace-Scope, go here.
- Antonio Carlos Jobim: Wave, go here.
- Sonny Stitt: Sonny Stitt Plays, go here.
- Sonny Stitt with Bennie Green: My Main Man, go here.
- Johnny Hodges and Earl Hines: Stride Right, go here.
- Lionel Hampton: Bossa Nova Jazz, go here.
- Johnny Hodges & Ben Webster: Cellar Session, go here.
- Bill Evans: Solo Sessions Vol. 1, go here.
- Frank Wess: Trombones & Flute, go here.
- Presenting the Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina Quartet, go here.
- Ernest Ranglin: Wranglin', go here.
- Dave Pell Octet: Plays Rodgers & Hart, go here.
- Milt Buckner: Block Chords Parade, go here.
- Roberto Menescal: A Nova Bossa, go here.
- Count Basie: Have a Nice Day, go here.