This Big Band legend would have turned 100 years old on August 21 so I thought it's a good time to dedicate a small thread to this guy.

He may not have been the composer like Duke Ellington, but his Big Band remains one of the best in Jazz history. Like Gerorge Clinton in P-Funk he knew how to lead the people and build up a collective of great composers, arrangers & musicians around him. And even if main arrangers changed (Frank Foster, Neil Hefty, Quincy Jones etc.) there always was this typical Basie sound, no matter what.

I loved when he backed up some of the best vocalists like Ella, Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Joe Willimas etc., but I think I even prefer his instrumental works, with the Big band as the main "actor". And I don't think I will find songs in my record collection I played more often over the years than f.e. "Shiny Stockings", "Corner Pocket" or "Lil' Darling".

Big shout outs go out to you today William, cheers!

Happy 100th "Count" ..

I grew up in a house full of Big Band players.....much appreciate.

dang, we have the same birthday.

Anxiety said:

so a toast goes out to you as well, Anx cheers!

(Count and Anx)

One O Clock Jump
Jumpin' At The Woodside

Good call Dancelot.


"Count taught a generation that the fewer notes you play the more musically technical you are; less is more."
~~Miles Davis

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm
[This message was edited Mon Aug 23 12:04:22 2004 by theAudience]