William James “Count” Basie ruled the jazz scene for over half a century, as
both an accomplished pianist and bandleader. He was renowned for his
spare and yet exuberant style of playing, that always had a strong element
of swing. In 1935 , Basie formed the Count Basie Orchestra, which he led
for almost 50 years. The group maintained their popularity throughout the
decades due to Basie’s constant creative innovations, including the use of two
“split” tenor saxophones, and riffing with a big band. Many famous musicians
came to prominence under his direction, including the singer Joe Williams.
Give it a try
Be bold and try experimenting with jazz
Top tip
Swing like Basie
Notes with equal written time
values are performed with
unequal durations, alternating
long and short. For two quavers,
the fi rst should last slightly
longer than the second, but
the two should still fi
t
within one beat.Count Basie
A legendary figure in the jazz piano world