Who was Count Basie influenced by? Basie began his musical studies with his mother and was subsequently influenced by the Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the northern section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is bounded roughly by Frederick Douglass Boulevard, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Morningside Park on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park …
Who arranged for Count Basie?
Sammy NesticoSammy Nestico, the composer and arranger best known for his work with the Count Basie Orchestra, has died. He was 96.
Who did Count Basie inspire?
During this period he also recorded with music greats, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums.
Did Ella Fitzgerald collaborate Count Basie?
She worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. (Or rather, some might say all the jazz greats had the pleasure of working with Ella.)
Who led the Count Basie Orchestra?
Since Basie's passing in 1984, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, Dennis Mackrel, and now Scotty Barnhart, have led the Count Basie Orchestra and maintained it as one of the elite performing organizations in Jazz.
Who was the influential guitarist in the Basie rhythm section?
Frederick William Green (March 31, 1911 – March 1, 1987) was an American swing jazz guitarist who played rhythm guitar with the Count Basie Orchestra for almost fifty years.
Who invented cool jazz?
trumpeter Miles DavisThe beginnings: In the late 1940s and early '50s, swing-era tenor sax player Lester Young began inspiring jazz musicians with his relaxed, light style of playing. While Young provided the inspiration, it was trumpeter Miles Davis who developed the style and is credited with creating the genre of cool jazz.
Who influenced Ella Fitzgerald?
She drew inspiration from Connee Boswell of The Boswell Sisters, one of her mother's favorite groups, and sang the song “Judy” by Hoagy Carmichael. Fitzgerald felt at home on the stage and less self-conscious.
How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ?
How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? The Basie band was looser and had a more relaxed swing feeling. How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? Ellington was a composer who played piano, but he really used the band as his expressive instrument.
Who was the influential tenor saxophone player in the Basie band?
Lester YoungLester Young (1909-1959) was one of the most influential tenor sax players in the history of jazz. He came to prominence with the Count Basie band in Kansas City in the 1930s, and was rapidly recognized as an original talent who was playing in a new style all his own.
How did Count Basie learn music?
Basie studied music with his mother and was later influenced by the Harlem pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, receiving informal tutelage on the organ from the latter.
What style was the Count Basie Orchestra?
jazzThe Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie in 1935 and recording regularly from 1936.
What kind of music is Count Basie?
William James "Count" Basie (/ˈbeɪsi/; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an African-American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer.
What was special about Count Basie?
With the group becoming highly distinguished for its soloists, rhythm section and style of swing, Basie himself was noted for his understated yet captivating style of piano playing and precise, impeccable musical leadership. He was also helming one of the biggest, most renowned African American jazz groups of the day.
What is William Count Basie famous for?
Though a pianist and occasional organist, William "Count" Basie's fame stems mainly from his history as one of the great bandleaders. Basie's arrangements made good use of soloists, allowing musicians such as Lester Young, Buck Clayton, Sweets Edison, and Frank Foster to create some of their best work.
Who was the influential tenor saxophone player in the Basie band?
Lester YoungLester Young (1909-1959) was one of the most influential tenor sax players in the history of jazz. He came to prominence with the Count Basie band in Kansas City in the 1930s, and was rapidly recognized as an original talent who was playing in a new style all his own.
What was the Count Basie band known for?
From its inception, Basie's band was well known for its outstanding rhythm section of Basie on piano, Freddie Green on guitar, Walter Page on bass, and "Papa" Jo Jones on drums. Known as the "All-American Rhythm Section", they became the gold standard for Swing Era.
How many times did Count Basie meet his wife?
In the 2016 movie The Matchbreaker, Emily Atkins ( Christina Grimmie) recounts the story of how Count Basie met his wife three times without speaking to her, telling her he would marry her some day in their first conversation, and then marrying her seven years later.
What instruments did Basie play?
Though a natural at the piano, Basie preferred drums. Discouraged by the obvious talents of Sonny Greer, who also lived in Red Bank and became Duke Ellington 's drummer in 1919, Basie switched to piano exclusively at age 15. Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. By then, Basie was playing with pick-up groups for dances, resorts, and amateur shows, including Harry Richardson's "Kings of Syncopation". When not playing a gig, he hung out at the local pool hall with other musicians, where he picked up on upcoming play dates and gossip. He got some jobs in Asbury Park at the Jersey Shore, and played at the Hong Kong Inn until a better player took his place.
What was the name of the band that played the tenor saxophone?
At the end of 1936, Basie and his band, now billed as Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, moved from Kansas City to Chicago, where they honed their repertoire at a long engagement at the Grand Terrace Ballroom. Right from the start, Basie's band was known for its rhythm section. Another Basie innovation was the use of two tenor saxophone players; at the time, most bands had just one. When Young complained of Herschel Evans ' vibrato, Basie placed them on either side of the alto players, and soon had the tenor players engaged in "duels". Many other bands later adapted the split tenor arrangement.
How did Catherine Basie die?
On April 11, 1983, Catherine Basie died of heart disease at the couple's home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. She was 67 years old.
What did Basie dream of?
The best student in school, Basie dreamed of a traveling life, inspired by touring carnivals which came to town. He finished junior high school but spent much of his time at the Palace Theater in Red Bank, where doing occasional chores gained him free admission to performances. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies.
Where did Basie go to live?
Around 1920, Basie went to Harlem, a hotbed of jazz, where he lived down the block from the Alhambra Theater. Early after his arrival, he bumped into Sonny Greer, who was by then the drummer for the Washingtonians, Duke Ellington 's early band. Soon, Basie met many of the Harlem musicians who were "making the scene," including Willie "the Lion" Smith and James P. Johnson .
How many numbers does the count meet the Duke have?
The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. Count Basie (left) in concert (Cologne 1975) During the balance of the 1960s, the band kept active with tours, recordings, television appearances, festivals, Las Vegas shows, and travel abroad, including cruises.
Who Was Count Basie?
A pianist, Count Basie played vaudeville before eventually forming his own big band and helping to define the era of swing with hits like "One O'Clock Jump" and "Blue Skies." In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award. One of jazz music's all-time greats, he won many other Grammys throughout his career and worked with a plethora of artists, including Joe Williams and Ella Fitzgerald.
What was the style of jazz that Basie played?
With the group becoming highly distinguished for its soloists, rhythm section and style of swing, Basie himself was noted for his understated yet captivating style of piano playing and precise, impeccable musical leadership. He was also helming one of the biggest, most renowned African American jazz groups of the day.
Why was the pianist called count?
So he called the pianist "Count," with Basie not realizing just how much the name would catch on as a form of recognition and respect in the music world.
How did Basie die?
Basie suffered from health issues in his later years, and died from cancer in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. He left the world an almost unparalleled legacy of musical greatness, having recorded or been affiliated with dozens upon dozens of albums during his lifetime.
Where was Basie born?
Early Life. Basie was born William James Basie (with some sources listing his middle name as "Allen") on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father Harvey was a mellophonist and his mother Lillian was a pianist who gave her son his first lessons.
Who was the lead singer of the Barons of Rhythm?
He later worked for a few years with a band led by Bennie Moten , who died in 1935. Basie then formed the Barons of Rhythm with some of his bandmates from Moten's group, including saxophonist Lester Young. With vocals by Jimmy Rushing, the band set up shop to perform at Kansas City's Reno Club.
Who was the leader of the big band?
Count Basie. One of jazz music's all-time greats, bandleader-pianist Count Basie was a primary shaper of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music.
Who wrote to Basie?
Hammond immediately wrote to Basie, expressing his wish to collaborate and introduce the band to even bigger audiences. When Basie finally wrote back, Hammond immediately left for Kansas City, and announced his presence by walking onstage during a Reno Club broadcast and sitting down with Basie between numbers.
Where did Basie go to live?
In 1924, Basie moved to New York City . There, he met and was influenced by noted stride pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. Though just a teenager, Basie was touring as a pianist and accompanist on the major vaudeville circuits.
What year did the Count Basie Orchestra move to New York City?
Hammond arranged for a national booking deal with MCA and a record deal with Decca Records, and by 1937 , the bombastic, thirteen-piece band known as the Count Basie Orchestra moved to New York City and become one of the world’s leading big bands.
When did Basie leave the Blue Devils?
Each would one day figure prominently in Basie’s own band. Basie left the Blue Devils early in 1929 to play with other bands in the area, and later that year schemed his way into the top band in the territory, the Bennie Moten band.
Who was the saxophonist for the Blue Devils?
Though Basie embraced his opportunity to lead a band, he quickly jumped ship to work with Moten’s new band, where he remained until Moten’s unexpected death in 1935. Soon, Basie and saxophonist Buster Smith pieced together their own nine-piece outfit, comprised of former members of the Blue Devils and the Bennie Moten Band. This new collective, Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, secured a residency at the Reno Club in Kansas City – a stay historians regard as Basie’s biggest career turning point.
When did the count Basie Orchestra disband?
Basie onstage with his Orchestra. In 1950, financial considerations forced Basie to disband the orchestra. But by 1952 he reorganized the band, and the “second” Count Basie Orchestra was considered as exciting, vibrant and even more important than the first.
Where did Basie go when he was in Kansas City?
In 1927, a canceled tour left Basie stranded in Kansas City, Missouri. He remained there, eventually joining bassist Walter Page’s Blue Devils, an outfit that also included vocalist Jimmy Rushing and trumpeter Oran “Hot Lips” Page. Each would one day figure prominently in Basie’s own band.
Who worked with Basie in the Jazz?
Years Later, Still Up for the Count : Jazz: Basie's influence best lives on in musicians, such as those in the Frank Capp Juggernaut ensemble, who worked with him. - Los Angeles Times
Who was the saxophonist for the Juggernaut?
Alto saxophonist Marshall Royal, a regular member of the Juggernaut, knew Basie better than most. (Because of a prior engagement, Royal will not appear with the Juggernaut on Sunday.) Royal replaced Buddy DeFranco in Basie’s seven-piece ensemble in 1951, joining saxophonist Wardell Gray and trumpeter Clark Terry in the front line, then helped Basie re-form his big band that same year. He served as Basie’s musical director for 20 years.
Why did people play with Rowland so long?
Recalled Rowland: “He was like one of the guys. Everybody had respect for him, and he had respect for all of the guys. That’s why people played with him so long. He was very sensitive, very warm and very aware of musical trends. I loved every minute I had with him.”
Who wrote the Juggernaut music?
Much of the Juggernaut’s music comes from the Basie book, with many of the tunes written for the Count by composer-trumpeter Neal Hefti, for whom Capp played in 1953.
Who is the king of jazz?
In the world of jazz royalty, Count Basie is king. From his Kansas City days in the ‘30s until his death in 1984, Basie’s trademark rhythm section pulse, contrasting brass soloists and his own spare, well-placed piano style were, for many, the very definition of the word “jazz.”
Did Capp work with the Basie Orchestra?
Capp never worked in the Basie orchestra--though he did appear with the pianist as a member of both the old Steve Allen and Joey Bishop show bands--but Basie’s influence on the Juggernaut is undeniable.
Overview
William James "Count" Basie was an African-American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations like the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, usi…
Biography
William Basie was born to Lillian and Harvey Lee Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several wealthy families in the area. Both of his parents had some type of musical background. His father played the mellophone, and his mother …
Marriage, family and death
Basie was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. On July 21, 1930, Basie married Vivian Lee Winn, in Kansas City, Missouri. They were divorced sometime before 1935. Some time in or before 1935, the now single Basie returned to New York City, renting a house at 111 West 138th Street, Manhattan, as evidenced by the 1940 census. He married Catherine Morgan on July 13, 1940, in the King County courthouse in Seattle, Washington. In 1942, they moved to Queens. Their only c…
Singers
Basie hitched his star to some of the most famous vocalists of the 1950s and 1960s, which helped keep the Big Band sound alive and added greatly to his recording catalog. Jimmy Rushing sang with Basie in the late 1930s. Joe Williams toured with the band and was featured on the 1957 album One O'Clock Jump, and 1956's Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings, with "Every Day (I Have the Blues)" becoming a huge hit. With Billy Eckstine on the album Basie/Eckstine Inc…
Legacy and honors
Count Basie introduced several generations of listeners to the Big Band sound and left an influential catalog. Basie is remembered by many who worked for him as being considerate of musicians and their opinions, modest, relaxed, fun-loving, dryly witty, and always enthusiastic about his music. In his autobiography, he wrote, "I think the band can really swing when it swings easy…
Representation in other media
• Jerry Lewis used "Blues in Hoss' Flat" from Basie's Chairman of the Board album, as the basis for his own "Chairman of the Board" routine in the movie The Errand Boy.
• "Blues in Hoss' Flat," composed by Basie band member Frank Foster, was used by the radio DJ Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins as his theme song in San Francisco and New York.
Discography
Count Basie made most of his albums with his big band. See the Count Basie Orchestra Discography.
From 1929 to 1932, Basie was part of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra:
• Count Basie in Kansas City: Bennie Moten's Great Band of 1930-1932 (RCA Victor, 1965)
• Basie Beginnings: Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra (1929–1932) (Bluebird/RCA, 1989)
Filmography
• Hit Parade of 1943 (1943) – as himself
• Top Man (1943) – as himself
• Sugar Chile Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet (1950) – as himself
• Jamboree (1957)