How was the Count Basie Orchestra different from other big bands of the era?
Basie played the piano and lead the band. The band was eventually renamed the Count Basie Orchestra, and their sound was distinct from the other big bands of the day, with a far more bluesy, less polished feel. Basie and Green’s combined tempo-keeping set the pace for this unique style.
What style of jazz is Count Basie?
swing
Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. He was the arbiter of the big-band swing sound and his unique style of fusing blues and jazz established swing as a predominant music style.
What was Count Basie’s arranging style?
head
The Basie organization specialized in arrangements that were fairly loosely organized and easy to customize on the spot, known informally as “head” arrangements. This allowed for a much more soloist-friendly environment than most of the other bands of the swing era.
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. Ellington was a composer who played piano, but he really used the band as his expressive instrument.
Does the Count Basie Orchestra still exist?
In 1935, Bennie Moten died and it was left to Basie to take some of the musicians from that orchestra and form his own, The Count Basie Orchestra, which is still alive and well today some 78 years later.
What pianist lead the most successful band in Kansas City?
Benjamin “Bennie” Moten (November 13, 1894 – April 2, 1935) was an American jazz pianist and band leader born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, United States….
| Bennie Moten | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Jazz, Kansas City jazz, Moten Swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Labels | Victor, OKeh, Bluebird, HMV, RCA |
Was Count Basie a real count?
“Count” Basie (1904-1984) The title of one of his band’s most famous tunes — “The Kid from Red Bank” – is an obvious tip-off, but many jazz historians assume that William J. “Count” Basie, Jr. was a native of Kansas City, Missouri.
What bands did Count Basie play in?
Count Basie Orchestra
Oklahoma City Blue Devils
Count Basie/Music groups
What did Count Basie and Duke Ellington play?
It was that one time in Kansas City. [Reading from his Kansas City jazz history:] Before pulling out of Kansas City, Basie and crew played a double bill with Duke Ellington at Paseo Hall on Nov. 2.
How old was Count Basie when he started his band?
Born William James Basie, he was a pianist, composer and band leader responsible for an endless stream of jazz hits over a sixty year career. Basie left school at 15, formed his own band around the age of 30 and led it until his death in 1984. What are the famous Basie charts you’d know?
What are some of Count Basie’s famous songs?
Some of their notable songs included “One O’Clock Jump”—the orchestra’s signature tune which Basie composed himself — and “Jumpin’ at the Woodside.”
Who is the director of the Count Basie Orchestra?
Today, under the leadership of it’s Director, Scotty Barnhart, The Count Basie Orchestra is traveling the world celebrating it’s 80th Anniversary and continuing the excellent standards in swinging and shouting the blues with precision, and continuing to be “The Most Explosive Force In Jazz”.
What was the middle name of Count Basie?
The jazz legend known as Count 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.