Count Basie

Known for ActingBorn 1904-08-21Died 1984-04-26Red 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.Read more

Movies & web series

Music Inn

Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

Rat Pack

The Big Show

Frank Sinatra Spectacular

'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet

Top Man

The Judy Garland Show

The Last of the Blue Devils

Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"

Astaire Time

Sid & Judy

Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music

Policy Man

Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

Billie

Blazing Saddles

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

Piano Blues

Cavalcade of Bands

ABC Stage 67

Take Me Back, Baby

Startime

The Ed Sullivan Show

Rhythm and Blues Revue

The Merv Griffin Show

The Harlem Renaissance

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Steve Allen Show

Stage Door Canteen

Cinderfella

Air Mail Special

Crazy House

The Mike Douglas Show

Jamboree!

Killer Diller

The Hollywood Palace

Made in Paris

Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater

Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62

Sentimental Journey

Judy Garland Duets

Improvisation

New York in the Fifties