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Count Basie
Acting
Biography
William James "Count" Basie (/ΛbeΙͺsi/; August 21, 1904 β 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 "Sweetβ¦
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William James "Count" Basie (/ΛbeΙͺsi/; August 21, 1904 β 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.
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BODY OF WORK
Count Basie's Filmography
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Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (voice) (archive sound)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
as Self (archive footage)
Billie
as self
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
Sid & Judy
as Self (archive footage)
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
as Self (archive footage)
No Poster
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
as Self
Music Inn
as Himself (archive footage)
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
as Himself
Judy Garland Duets
as Self (archive footage)
Improvisation
as Self
The Harlem Renaissance
as Self (archive footage)
Piano Blues
as Self (archive footage)
No Poster
New York in the Fifties
as Self
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
as Self
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
as Self
The Last of the Blue Devils
as Self
Norman Granzβ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79β"The Perfect Match"
as Sself (Piano, Conductor)
Blazing Saddles
as Count Basie
Made in Paris
as Count Basie
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
as Self
Cinderfella
as Count Basie
Astaire Time
as Self
Jamboree!
as Count Basie
Rhythm and Blues Revue
as Self
No Poster
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
Basie Boogie
Crazy House
as Count Basie
Top Man
as Orchestra Leader
Stage Door Canteen
as Count Basie
Take Me Back, Baby
Policy Man
as Count Basie
Ebony Parade
as (archive footage)