Count Basie
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William “Count” Basie (August 21, 1904– April 26, 1984) was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader.
As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title “Splanky” is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie “The Lion” Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.
As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, and of course Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie’s organization.
In addition to Basie, the swinging “All American Rhythm Section” of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax)
As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title “Splanky” is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie “The Lion” Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.
As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, and of course Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie’s organization.
In addition to Basie, the swinging “All American Rhythm Section” of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax)
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The Complete Clef & Verve Fifties Studio…
Count Basie
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Story
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The Atomic Mr. Basie
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Jukebox Hits 1940-1952
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Shoutbox
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simillarian wrote:
It would be nice if 70% of these songs were tagged with the correct artist name :\
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halo_dm2 wrote:
Frank Foster RIP
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Druid66 wrote:
Basie was worthy of a title, all right!
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Luchiojeans wrote:
http://www.lastfm.es/group/Live%2BLike%2BIn%2BThe%2B50%2527s%2B%2526%2B60%2527s
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achtneun wrote:
Just 2,5 million plays? That's ridiculous.
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panmaki86 wrote:
nan hopörst jkut mistujka sanirfriceso
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bernarducs wrote:
many people talks about duke ellington in newport, but count was also legendary there. get this record, now!
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lohrasb wrote:
Big Red <3
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thenearestdoor wrote:
nothing swings harder than this.
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flamencist wrote:
swing's my soul
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meet_in_hell wrote:
мурррр
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jj6z wrote:
Thanks !!
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Karamelnik wrote:
This music will be live forever. I hope.
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Lord_Talron wrote:
love you count!
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strajnic wrote:
Listen to Count Basie and Big Joe Turner album "The Bosses" if you want to know what is real blues!
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Albi3000 wrote:
He had the best trumpet section ever.
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sergeeo wrote:
He creado un grupo en español para jazzeros, que no encontré nada cuando busqué... ¡Echadle un ojo y apuntaros si os apetece! "http://www.lastfm.es/group/Jazz+[español]"
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F_Hole wrote:
I only got to see The Man once, right before he took his final break. He was awesome right up to the end.
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4Heather wrote:
Friday May 22 in Walnut Creek, CA The Count Basie Orchestra featuring vocalist Jamie Davis. A Benefit for the Generations in Jazz Tickets available online at: www.lesherartscenter.org or phone 925-943-show Ticket prices $17.50, $35 & V.I.P. $50 includes preferred seating and FREE CD. Produced by Sam Beler for Unity Music: www.unity-music.net WALNUT CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1801 LACASSIE AVENUE, Walnut Creek, California 94596
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blackfeet2008 wrote:
TAKING IT EASY SON..........
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Recent Activity
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gendervariant, musicallyguided and goldenb added Count Basie to their libraries. 3 hours ago
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beliberdon tagged Count Basie with ‘jazz’. yesterday evening
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realcoolhit tagged Count Basie with ‘jazz’. Monday morning
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Uhwelluh wrote about Count Basie in Riffin' broadcast. Saturday morning
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Etienne-Marie added Count Basie to Etienne-Marie’s library. Friday afternoon
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dontboreme tagged Count Basie with ‘jazz’. last week
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