Count Basie
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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.
Known for
Credits
Blazing Saddles (1974)
as Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (2022)
as Self (voice) (archive sound)
Piano Blues (2003)
as Self (archive footage)
Stage Door Canteen (1943)
as Count Basie
Cinderfella (1960)
as Count Basie
Jamboree! (1957)
as Count Basie
Rat Pack (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Made in Paris (1966)
as Count Basie
Ebony Parade (—)
as (archive footage)
Improvisation (2004)
as Self
Sid & Judy (2019)
as Self (archive footage)
The Last of the Blue Devils (1979)
as Self
Frank Sinatra Spectacular (1965)
as Self
Crazy House (1943)
as Count Basie
Basie Boogie (1950)
Actor
The Harlem Renaissance (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Judy Garland Duets (2005)
as Self (archive footage)
Billie (2020)
as self
Top Man (1943)
as Orchestra Leader
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music (1981)
as Self
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes (2020)
Actor
Rhythm and Blues Revue (1955)
as Self
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music (1993)
as Self (archive footage)
New York in the Fifties (2001)
as Self
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall (1981)
as Self
Astaire Time (1960)
as Self
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater (2011)
as Self
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words (2014)
as Self (archive footage)
Music Inn (2007)
as Himself (archive footage)
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match" (1979)
as Sself (Piano, Conductor)
Air Mail Special (1941)
as Self
Policy Man (1938)
as Count Basie
Take Me Back, Baby (1941)
Actor
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet (1951)
Actor
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62 (2006)
as Himself