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*It’s not quite a mash-up record, as the kids say nowadays to describe the mixing of one artist’s vocals with another artist’s music. But Concord Records and Starbucks Hear Music are dangerously close to the concept with a new CD that blends the music of legends Ray Charles and Count Basie.
Although the two never performed together during their time on earth, technology has paired them together in death, as Charles’ vocals from a concert in the mid-1970s have been mixed with today’s Count Basie Orchestra for the new album, “Ray Sings, Basie Swings.” Included among the tracks are "Busted," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "The Long and Winding Road" and "Georgia on My Mind."
The idea for the project began when producers were rummaging through Charles’ record company vault and found tapes marked "Ray/Basie." John Burk, a producer on Charles’ last final album “Genius Loves Company,” thought he'd stumbled upon a gold mine, but the tapes turned out to feature Charles accompanied by his own orchestra, although the music was recorded so poorly it could barely be heard. Burk had the idea of pairing the vocal recordings with new instrumental backing.
Enter Gregg Field, a drummer who toured and recorded with both Charles' and Basie's bands before Basie died in 1984. He was hired to craft the new disc with computer editing, and also match Charles' singing to the new band's performance, often stretching or compacting the space between words in order to fit the tempo.
"It was like painting the Sistine Chapel with a Q-tip," Field said, according to AP.
Singer Patti Austin was also brought in to sing background with a new group of Raelettes.
"This is the best use of technology, when we can bring an amazing Ray Charles performance - one of the best he ever had - and build a musical form around it," Field said. "You would hope that the people charged with the custody of master recordings would respect the way they should be used."
The disc will be released Oct. 3 at traditional retailers and at Starbucks stores.