Instruct: Classify a given review into positive or negative sentiment.
Query: Basie reaching for his peak of perfection

From the mid 70's until about 1983 Bill Basie achieved greatness unlike few others. Basie had invested in a priceless library of charts and had sufficient financial success to do prety much that which he wanted. His stable of band members was magnificant with beloved Al Grey, Freddie Green, Jimmy Forest, Eric Dixon and on and on. At the top was the drumming of Butch Miles who's ability to read the mind of Basie was remarkable. (While my admiration for Butch is unmatched, a long drum solo really doesn't fit with a Basie concert.) They were collectively the best, they knew they were the best and they had FUN playing the best together. For the gig Norman Granz had a grand idea. He combined the sound quality of studio recording while inviting in a knowledgeable crowd of fans to react and thus drive the band forward. The Basie band always reacted with brillance to a live audiance and they did here as well. This is what Five Stars really means!