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Bandleader and pianist Basie grew up in Red Bank, just across the Hudson River from New York City. His mother gave him his first lessons at the piano, and he used every opportunity to hear the celebrated kings of New York keyboard - James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith and especially Fats Waller. Ragtime was all the rage, and these keyboard professors ransacked the European tradition to achieve ever more spectacular improvisations. The young Basie listened to Fats Waller playing the organ in Harlem's Lincoln Theater and received tuition from him. Pianists were in demand to accompany vaudeville acts, and Waller recommended Basie as his successor in the Katie Crippen And Her Kids troupe, and with them he toured black venues throughout America (often referred to as the "chitlin' circuit"). Stranded in Kansas City after the Gonzel White tour collapsed, Basie found it "wide-open". Owing to the laissez-faire administration of Democrat leader Tom Pendergast, musicians could easily find work, and jazz blossomed alongside gambling and prostitution (many people trace the origins of modern jazz to these circumstances - see Kansas City Jazz).
Basie played accompaniment for silent movies for a while, then in 1928 joined Walter Page's Blue Devils, starting a 20-year-long association with the bass player. When the Blue Devils broke up, Basie joined Bennie Moten, then in 1935, started his own band at the Reno Club and quickly lured Moten's best musicians into its ranks. Unfettered drinking hours, regular broadcasts on local radio and Basie's feel for swing honed the band into quite simply the most classy and propulsive unit in the history of music. Duke Ellington's band may have been more ambitious, but for sheer unstoppable swing Basie could not be beaten. Impresario John Hammond recognized as much when he heard them on their local broadcast. In January 1937 an augmented Basie band made its recording debut for Decca Records. By this time the classic rhythm section - Freddie Green (guitar), Walter Page (bass) and Jo Jones (drums) - had been established. The horns - which included Lester Young (tenor saxophone) and Buck Clayton (trumpet) - sounded magnificent buoyed by this team and the goadings of Basie's deceptively simple piano. Basie frequently called himself a "non-pianist"; actually, his incisive minimalism had great power and influence - not least on Thelonious Monk, one of bebop's principal architects. In 1938, the band recorded the classic track "Jumpin' At The Woodside", a Basie composition featuring solos by Earle Warren (alto saxophone) and Herschel Evans (clarinet), as well as Young and Clayton. The track could be taken as a definition of swing. Basie's residency at the Famous Door club on New York's West 52nd Street from July 1938 to January 1939 was a great success, CBS broadcasting the band over its radio network (transcriptions of these broadcasts have recently been made available - although hardly hi-fi, they are fascinating documents, with Lester Young playing clarinet as well as tenor). This booking was followed by a six-month residency in Chicago. It is this kind of regular work - spontaneity balanced with regular application - that explains why the recorded sides of the period are some of the great music of the century.
In 1939 Basie left Decca for Columbia Records, with whom he stayed until 1946. Throughout the 40s the Count Basie band provided dancers with conducive rhythms and jazz fans with astonishing solos: both appreciated his characteristic contrast of brass and reeds. Outstanding tenors emerged: Don Byas, Buddy Tate, Lucky Thompson, Illinois Jacquet, Paul Gonsalves, as well as trumpeters (Al Killian and Joe Newman) and trombonists (Vic Dickenson and J.J. Johnson). On vocals Basie used Jimmy Rushing for the blues material and Helen Humes for pop and novelty numbers. Economic necessity pared down the Basie band to seven members at the start of the 50s, but otherwise Basie maintained a big band right through to his death in 1984. In 1954 he made his first tour of Europe, using arrangements by Ernie Wilkins and Neal Hefti. In June 1957 Basie broke the colour bar at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel; his was the first black band to play there, and they stayed for a four-month engagement. The 1957 The Atomic Mr Basie set Hefti's arrangements in glorious stereo sound and was acknowledged as a classic. Even the cover made its mark: in the 70s new wave band Blondie adapted its period nuclear-chic to frame singer Deborah Harry.
In 1960, Jimmy Rushing left the band, depriving it of a popular frontman, but the European tours continued - a groundbreaking tour of Japan in 1963 was also a great success. Count Basie was embraced by the American entertainment industry and appeared in the movies Sex And The Single Girl and Made In Paris. He became a regular television guest alongside the likes of Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jnr. and Tony Bennett. Arranging for Basie was a significant step in the career of Quincy Jones (later famous as Michael Jackson's producer). The onslaught of the Beatles and rock music in the 60s was giving jazz a hard time; Basie responded by giving current pop tunes the big band treatment, and Jones arranged Hits Of The 50s And 60s. Its resounding commercial success led to a string of similar albums arranged by Billy Byers; the brass adopted the stridency of John Barry's James Bond scores and, unlike the work of the previous decades, these records now sound dated. In 1965, Basie signed to Sinatra's Reprise Records, and made several recordings and appearances with him.
By 1969 most of Basie's original sidemen had left the band, though Freddie Green was still with him. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor) was now his most distinguished soloist. The arranger Sammy Nestico provided some interesting compositions, and 1970 saw the release of Afrique, an intriguing and unconventional album arranged by Oliver Nelson with tunes by avant garde saxophonists such as Albert Ayler and Pharoah Sanders. In 1975, after recording for a slew of different labels, Basie found a home on Pablo Records (owned by Norman Granz, organizer of the Jazz At The Philharmonic showcases). This produced a late flowering, as, unlike previous producers, Granz let Basie do what he does best - swing the blues - rather than collaborate with popular singers. In 1983, the death of his wife Catherine, whom he had married 40 years earlier while he was with the Bennie Moten band, struck a heavy blow and he himself died the following year.
The later compromises should not cloud Basie's achievements: during the 30s he integrated the bounce of the blues into sophisticated ensemble playing. His piano work showed that rhythm and space were more important than technical virtuosity: his composing gave many eminent soloists their finest moments. Without the Count Basie Orchestra's sublimely aerated versions of "Cherokee" it is unlikely that Charlie Parker could ever have created "Koko". Modern jazz stands indubitably in Basie's debt. For newcomers to the work of Basie the Original American Decca Recordings is an unbeatable starting point.
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Discography:
Discography:
Wild & Swingin' 2003
At The Aquarium 1946 2003
Basie Talks 2003
Complete 1941-1951 Columbia Recordings 2003
1952 2003
Rhythm Pure & Simple 2002
The Alternative Takes Vol. 4 1941-45 2002
The Alternative Takes Vol. 3 1941 2002
New York - Chicago 1937-1941 2002
Timeless 2002
1950-1951 2002
Count Basie: Golden Greats 2002
Octet Sounds 2002
Count Basie's Finest Hour 2002
The Alternative Takes Vol. 1 1936-1940 2002
Jazz Gallery 1936-58 2001
The Jump King Of Swing 2001
Jazz Casual: Sing & Swing 2001
Count Basie Vol. 2 2001
Count Basie Vol. 1 & 2 2001
Count Basie Vol. 1 2001
Swingin' At The Chatterbox 1937 2001
Making Whoopee 2001
Jive At Five (Past Perfect) 2001
One O'Clock Jump 2001
At Birdland Summer 1952 2001
The Count 2000
Listen My Children, You Shall Hear 2000
Live 1958 & 1959 2000
Konserthuset Stockholm 3/15/54 2000
Swing Legends 2000
Cool Count 2000
The Lang-Worth Transcriptions 2000
April In Paris (Early Bird) 2000
Jazz Collection 2000
Jumpin' 2000
Jazz Masters 2000
Cafe Society Uptown, 1941 2000
Forever Gold 1999
1947 1999
Volume 10: 1939 1999
Big Band Sounds 1999
Volume 11: 1939 1999
Cocktail Hour 1999
The Kid From Red Bank: The Complete 1938-1947... 1999
Ain't It The Truth 1998
The Gold Collection 1998
A Portrait Of Count Basie 1998
Paris Jazz Concert 1972 1998
Blues & Boogie Woogie 1937/1947 1998
Live At The Sands (Before Frank) 1998
Basie In Europe 1998
One O' Clock Jump And Other Hits 1997
Volume 9: 1939 1997
1938 At The Famous Door 1997
Lullaby Of Birdland 1997
The Revue Collection 1997
1945-1946 1997
At Birdland 1956 1997
One O'Clock Jump - The Very Best Of Count Basie 1997
Jazz Profile No. 15 1997
1936-1944 1996
Cute 1996
Count Basie Vol. 2: Jumpin' At The Woodside 1996
The Golden Years Vol. 3 1940-1944 1996
Makin' Whoopee 1996
Featuring Anita O'Day 1996
On Tour! 1996
Golden Hits 1996
Cream Of, Vol. 1 1996
Unbeatable Basie Beat 1996
Greatest Hits 1996
Count Basie (Dove) 1996
Blues Alley 1996
August 5, 1958 1995
Volume 6: 1938 1995
Volume 5: 1937-38 1995
And His Orchestra 1937 1995
Basie Boogie 1995
From The Southland Cafe-Boston 1940 1995
Basie's Best (Sony Special Products) 1995
Vol. 3: 1929-1937 1995
Volume 7: 1938 1995
One O'Clock Jump (K-Tel) 1995
On The Upbeat 1995
En Concert Avec Europe 1 1995
Live In Concert 1995
Jazz Round Midnight 1995
The Count 1995
One O'Clock Jump (MCA Special Products) 1995
Do You Wanna Jump...? 1995
Soloist 1941/1959 1995
1946-1947 1994
1942 1994
1940-1941 1994
1939 Vol. 1 1994
Volume 4: 1937 1994
Basie Rhythm 1994
1941 1994
1943-1945 1994
1939-1940 1994
1939 Vol. 2 1994
1936-1938 1994
Low Life 1994
Jumpin' At The Woodside (Pickwick) 1994
Giants Of The Big Band Era 1994
Verve Jazz Masters 2 1994
Autumn In Paris 1994
Listen...You Shall Hear 1994
The Jubilee Alternatives 1943-44 1994
Classic Count 1993
Deacon 1993
20 Golden Pieces Of Count Basie 1993
The Swingin' Machine, Live! 1993
Basie In Europe/Blues Alley 1993
Count Basie 1949: Shoutin' Blues 1993
The Atomic Band In Concert 1992
New Year At Birdland 1992
Corner Pocket 1992
Basie's Best (Charly) 1992
Compact Jazz - Basie Plays The Blues 1992
Volume 2 1992
And His Orchestra (1944) 1992
Jive At Five (Living Era) 1992
V. 2: 1930-1932 1991
Vol. 1: 1929-1930 1991
Count Basie (Bella Musica) 1991
Vol.2: Rock-A-Bye Basie 1991
Jazz Collector Edition 1991
The Essence Of Count Basie 1991
Basie's Bounce 1991
Beaver Junction 1944-46 1991
The First Recordings He Ever Made 1990
Count Basie 1947: Brand New Wagon 1990
One O'Clock Jump (MCA Jazz) 1990
1944 & 1945 1989
Compact Jazz - Standards 1989
The Golden Years Vol. 3: 1940-44 1989
The Golden Years Vol. 1: 1937 1989
Some Pair! 1989
Loose Walk 1988
Compact Jazz 1988
Basie And Friends 1988
Basie 1987
Compact Jazz 1987
88 Basie Street (JVC) 1983
88 Basie Street 1983
Fancy Pants 1983
Me And You 1983
Mostly Blues...And Some Others 1983
Farmer's Market Barbecue [Gold Disc] 1982
The Indispensable Count Basie 1982
Farmer's Market Barbecue 1982
Best Of Count Basie 1980
Kansas City 7 1980
Kansas City Shout 1980
Afrique 1979
Get Together 1979
On The Road 1979
The Timekeepers (JVC) 1978
Night Rider 1978
Yessir, That's My Baby 1978
The Timekeepers 1978
Live In Japan, '78 1978
Kansas City 5 1977
The Gifted Ones 1977
Montreux '77 1977
Montreux '77 1977
Satch & Josh...Again 1977
Prime Time 1977
Best Of The Count Basie Big Band 1976
Basie & Zoot 1976
I Told You So 1976
Basie Big Band (JVC) 1975
Fun Time 1975
For The Second Time 1975
Basie Big Band [Remaster] 1975
Satch & Josh (JVC) 1974
Satch & Josh 1974
For The First Time 1974
Basie Jam [Gold Disc] 1973
Basie Jam 1973
Jam Session Montreux 1975 1971
Basie On The Beatles 1970
Jazz Collector Edition: Ain't Misbehavin' 1969
Jazz Fest Masters 1969
Basic Basie 1969
Pop Classics 1968
Live In Antibes 1968 1968
Basie Meets Bond 1966
Count Basie And Friends 1966
Basie's Beatle Bag 1966
Our Shining Hour 1964
Frankly Basie: Count Basie Plays The Hits Of... 1963
This Time By Basie 1963
Lil Ol' Groovemaker 1963
Live In Sweden 1962
The Legend 1961
Basie At Birdland 1961
Swingin The Blues 1960
Kansas City Suite: The Music Of Benny Carter 1960
Best Of Basie, Vol 2 1960
Best Of Basie, Vol 1 1960
Strike Up The Band 1959
Basie-Eckstine Inc. 1959
Chairman Of The Board 1958
One O'Clock Jump (Laserlight) 1958
One More Time 1958
Sing Along With Basie 1958
Memories Ad Lib 1958
The Complete Atomic Basie 1957
King Of Swing 1956
Blues By Basie/One O'Clock Jump 1956
The Greatest 1956
Basie In London 1956
Count Basie Swings - Joe Williams Sings 1955
Class Of '54 1954
Basie's Basement 1950
Blues By Basie 1950
Basie's Best
Jumpin' At The Woodside (Satellite Sounds)
Basic Basie
Best Of Count Basie (MCA)
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