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