1904-08-21 Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
William James "Count" Basie (/ˈbeɪsi/; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an 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, using arrangers to broaden their sound, his minimalist piano style, and others. Many musicians came to prominence under his direction, including the tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, the guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison, plunger trombonist Al Grey, and singers Jimmy Rushing, Helen Humes, Dennis Rowland, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams. As a composer, Basie is known for writing such jazz standards as "Blue and Sentimental", "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "One O'Clock Jump". Description above from the Wikipedia article Count Basie, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Rat Pack | Self (archive footage) | 2022-01-11 |
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Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues | Self (voice) (archive sound) | 2022-09-08 |
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Charlie Parker - Bird Songs | Self (archive footage) | 2022-01-09 |
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Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes | 2020-09-13 | |
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Billie | self | 2020-09-30 |
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Sid & Judy | Self (archive footage) | 2019-06-26 |
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Jazz Legends in Their Own Words | Self (archive footage) | 2014-05-24 |
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All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater | Self | 2011-09-28 |
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Music Inn | Himself (archive footage) | 2007-05-03 |
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Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62 | Himself | 2006-07-13 |
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Judy Garland Duets | Self (archive footage) | 2005-06-04 |
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Improvisation | Self | 2004-01-01 |
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The Harlem Renaissance | Self (archive footage) | 2004-01-01 |
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Piano Blues | Self (archive footage) | 2003-10-04 |
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New York in the Fifties | Self | 2001-10-16 |
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Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music | Self (archive footage) | 1993-11-02 |
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Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music | Self | 1981-11-22 |
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Count Basie At Carnegie Hall | Self | 1981-03-20 |
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Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match" | Sself (Piano, Conductor) | 1979-01-01 |
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The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story | Self | 1979-10-01 |
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Blazing Saddles | Self | 1974-02-07 |
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Made in Paris | Count Basie | 1966-02-09 |
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Frank Sinatra Spectacular | Self | 1965-06-12 |
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Cinderfella | Count Basie | 1960-12-18 |
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Jamboree! | Count Basie | 1957-12-07 |
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Rhythm and Blues Revue | Self | 1955-01-01 |
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'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet | 1951-01-03 | |
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Basie Boogie | 1950-10-06 | |
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Top Man | Orchestra Leader | 1943-09-17 |
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Crazy House | Count Basie | 1943-10-08 |
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Stage Door Canteen | Count Basie | 1943-06-24 |
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Take Me Back, Baby | 1941-02-20 | |
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Air Mail Special | Self | 1941-12-08 |
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Policy Man | Count Basie | 1938-01-01 |
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Ebony Parade | (archive footage) |
