Count Basie
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.
Filmography (49 titles)
6.5MovieLouis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (voice) (archive sound) · 2022
9.0MovieRat Pack
Self (archive footage) · 2022
6.8MovieCharlie Parker: Bird Songs
Self (archive footage) · 2022
6.8MovieBillie
self · 2020
7.0MovieCount Basie: Through His Own Eyes
2020
7.4MovieSid & Judy
Self (archive footage) · 2019
MovieJazz Legends in Their Own Words
Self (archive footage) · 2014
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
Self · 2011
10.0MovieMusic Inn
Himself (archive footage) · 2007
MovieJazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
Himself · 2006
MovieJudy Garland Duets
Self (archive footage) · 2005
6.0MovieThe Harlem Renaissance
Self (archive footage) · 2004
MovieImprovisation
Self · 2004
6.5MoviePiano Blues
Self (archive footage) · 2003
New York in the Fifties
Self · 2001
7.5MovieBluesland: A Portrait in American Music
Self (archive footage) · 1993
MovieFrank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
Self · 1981
10.0MovieCount Basie At Carnegie Hall
Self · 1981
9.0ShowThe Big Show
Self · 1980
8.0MovieThe Last of the Blue Devils
Self · 1979
8.0MovieNorman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
Sself (Piano, Conductor) · 1979
7.4ShowThe Kennedy Center Honors
Self · 1978
7.2MovieBlazing Saddles
Self · 1974
6.8ShowABC Stage 67
Self · 1966
4.9MovieMade in Paris
Count Basie · 1966
9.0MovieFrank Sinatra Spectacular
Self · 1965
5.0ShowThe Hollywood Palace
Self - Pianist · 1964
8.2ShowThe Judy Garland Show
Self · 1963
6.6ShowThe Merv Griffin Show
Self · 1962
7.5ShowThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 1962