Shiny Stockings

Frank Foster, the wonderful robust saxophonist who lead the Count Basie Band from 1953 to 1964 wrote a song called "Shiny Stockings" for  the Basie Band in 1955 , it appears on the classic April in Paris album, it would become a band signature and standard, often preformed with lyrics by both Ella Fritzgerald and Jon Hendricks, my  favorite of the two. The tune is medium tempo and rises to a slow powerful crescendo. The original trumpet solo by Thad Jones is fantastic. It swings.

He was one of the two Franks to lead the Basie Band. The other being Frank Weiss. Neal Hefti wrote a neat little set piece called "Two Franks". They have very contrasting solo styles.  And both played flute.

Because of his failing health Frank Foster concentrated more on the flute and his most recent works with the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw is very tasteful .

I remember the evening my wife and I danced the night away under the stars at New York's Lincoln Center , as he swung the Basie Band, especially Shiny Stockings.