The album 'Basie Jam 2' was recorded on February 13, 1976 in Los Angeles, California, produced by Norman Granz for Pablo Records. This record is the follow-up to 'Basie Jam' (1975) and features Count Basie leading a group of jazz stars in a collective improvisation session, known as a jam session.
The lineup includes Count Basie on piano, accompanied by musicians such as Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Al Grey on trombone, Jimmy Forrest on tenor saxophone, Benny Carter on alto saxophone, John Heard on bass, and Louie Bellson on drums. The album is characterized by long improvisations on standards and blues, capturing the spontaneity of a jam session.
This album is part of a series of jam session recordings that Norman Granz organized for Pablo Records, aiming to document the interaction between major jazz figures. 'Basie Jam 2' was praised for the energy and creativity of the soloists, although it did not achieve the same popularity as other Basie releases from the same period.