Music:
Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie (1904-1984)

Born William James Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey, Count Basie was a pianist and one of the best band leaders of the swing era. Old time dancers swore he was the best dance band of all time, modern dancers still dance to his music whenever they can.


What made Basie's band so great?

Longevity. And that rhythm section.

Walter Page on bass was the heart of Basie's rhythm section, Freddie Green played rhythm guitar, Jo Jones the drums, and Basie himself was the pianist. These musicians were the engine driving the Basie Orchestra, and the reason this band was so great for dancing.

Jazz fans divide the Basie band's recordings into two groups: 'old testament' Basie (1930s-1940s) and 'new testament' Basie (1950s-1980s). Both periods have brought us some of the best swinging jazz of all time.

Bennie Moten's Band

The Early Basie Bands

Basie started playing with Walter Page's Blue Devils in 1928, and in 1929 he began playing with Bennie Moten's band, based in Kansas. In 1935 Basie formed his own band, the Barons of Rhythm with key members of Moten's band: Walter Page (bass), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums), Lester Young (tenor saxophone) and Jimmy Rushing (vocals).
This was the beginning.

In 1936 the Basie band was recording as Jones-Smith Incorporated. John Hammond, later to become a famous producer and advocate for jazz, heard the band on the radio and convinced them to move to New York and record more. This time as the Count Basie Orchestra.

Count Basie's Orchestra with Jimmy Rushing

The 'old testament' Count Basie Orchestra

By 1938 Count Basie's Orchestra was in full flight. They battled Chick Webb's orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom (Harlem's home for lindy hoppers) and won. Lindy hoppers like Norma Miller, Frankie Manning, and other members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers declare Basie's band the best for dancing. Dancers are still swinging out to Jumpin at the Woodside (1938), One o/Clock Jump (1937), and Easy Does It (1940).

The band's success continued into the 40s, and in the 1950s it leapt to new heights.

1954 Count Basie's Orchestra with Jimmy Rushing

The 'new testament' Basie band

The recordings of this band in the 1950s and 60s very popular with dancers today. They range from the 'wall of sound' of a big band with the best hi-fi technology and superlative arrangements of old and new songs to the more delicate recordings of a band leader playing less to make more.

This is where we find songs like Corner Pocket (1955), Splanky (1957), and Blues in Hoss's Flat (1958).

Basie's live recordings at the Newport Jazz Festival and night clubs like the Crescendo are among the very best big band jazz recordings. His 'Atomic' Band of the late '50s was a mighty powerhouse, and still sets a dance floor on fire.

Basie with Goodman's group

Other bands

Basie's career not only boasted a chart topping big band, it also found him recording with a host of stars. He worked with Benny Goodman's Sextet in the 1940s, Ella Fitzgerald in the 1960s, and Oscar Peterson in the 1970s.

The 1970s and 80s gave us Basie with a range of smaller groups, from duets with Oscar Peterson to his own Trio. May of these are available on youtube and are well worth exploring.

Listen

Our Count Basie Spotify Playlist:

  • Moten Swing (1932) Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra (incl. Count Basie, Walter Page)
  • Evenin' (1936) Jones-Smith Incorporated (incl Lester Young, Count Basie, Walter Page, Jo Jones, Jimmy Rushing)
  • Don't You Miss Your Baby? (1937) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • One O'Clock Jump (1937) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Jumpin' At The Woodside (1938) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Every Tub (1938) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • My Heart Belongs To Daddy (1939) Count Basie and his orchestra
  • I Left My Baby (1939) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Benny's Bugle (1940) Benny Goodman Sextet (incl. Cootie Williams, George Auld, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, Artie Bernstein, Harry Jaeger)
  • Tickle-Toe (1940) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Easy Does It (1940) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Harvard Blues (1941) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Open The Door, Richard (1947) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Did You Ever See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? (1949) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Shoutin' Blues (1949) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • You're My Baby, You (1950) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Solid as a Rock (1950) Count Basie and his Orchestra with The Deep River Boys
  • I Want A Little Girl (1952) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Goin' To Chicago (1952) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Splanky (1957) Count Basie and his Orchestra
  • Evenin' (1957) Count Basie and his Orchestra - At Newport
  • The Comeback (1957) Count Basie and his Orchestra - At Newport
  • My Baby Upsets Me (1958) Count basie and his Atomic Band - Complete Live at the Crescendo 1958
  • Blues In Hoss's Flat (1958) Count Basie and his Orchestra - Chairman Of The Board
  • Roll 'Em Pete (1959) Count Basie and his Orchestra - Breakfast Dance And Barbecue
  • Jive At Five (1960) Count Basie and his Orchestra - The Count Basie Story
  • Shiny Stockings (1963) Count Basie and his Orchestra (incl. Ella Fitzgerald) - Ella And Basie!
  • The Time is Right (1977) Count Basie and Oscar Peterson - Satch and Josh...Again