Count Basie

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Count Basie

Count Basie (William Basie) , 1904-84, American jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer, b. Red Bank, N.J. After working in dance halls and vaudeville in New York City, Basie moved to Kansas City, a major jazz center. There he joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in 1927, moving to Bennie Morton's band in 1929. He formed his own band in 1935, and for 40 years it has produced a distinctive sound marked by a powerful yet relaxed attack. Basie's provocative piano style is characterized by a predominant right hand. Among the many pieces he has composed for his band is "One O'Clock Jump."

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Basie, Count

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Basie, Count ( William) (1904–84) US jazz band leader, pianist and composer. In 1935 Basie formed his own band in Kansas City. It was centred around a rhythm section of himself, Freddie Green, Walter Page, and Jo Jones. The Count Basie Orchestra recordings (1937–39) are among the most powerful works of the swing era. In 1952 Basie formed a new orchestra, which made the explosive The Atomic Mr. Basie (1957).

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The Oxford Companion to United States History entry for Basie, William (“Count”)

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Count Basie arrangements released by Warner Bros. (Music Marketplace).(Brief Article) Magazine article from: American Music Teacher; 4/1/2002
	The Count Basie Theatre's Cool School Launches Youth Jazz Orchestra. Business Wire; 3/10/2004
	William (Count) Basie: August 21, 1904.(This Week in Black History)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jet; 8/24/1998

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