The Kid from Red Bank - Count Basie

[klook]

Happy 100th birthday to William "Count" Basie! One of the all-time great jazz band leaders and pianists!!

[medeak]

1. awesome!

thank you for reminder.. and a toast to Fats Waller who he studied with...

[klook]

3. Thomas, he called him

(Fats Waller, that is.) Just listening to River Walk Jazz on the radio--special Basie show. They played "Li'l Darlin'" by Neal Hefti, my all-time Basie favorite. In an interview Basie mentioned Waller and how he learned to play organ with him. Good stuff.

[medeak]

4. saw him

when I was 12. My Dad snuck me into Vegas Lounge as he thought it was imperative that I see the great guy..

Did the same with "Fatha" Hines as well.

[klook]

5. You are lucky

to have seen both Hines and Basie live.

I saw the Basie band live in 1980, in Atlanta. They had an open date, and the band director of Druid Hills High School called their manager and asked if they'd play a concert in the gym. Sure enough, the answer was yes!

We sat on bleachers to watch the show. The band played a couple of tunes, and then the Count came out onto the stage. He'd had a stroke earlier that year, and was just able to shuffle along with a cane. But he could still play some cool minimal bluesy licks. At one point he did his trademark "Pling!" grace note near the top of the piano at a decisive moment, and turned and flashed a million-dollar grin at the audience as if to say, "I'm still here!"

He was, and he is.

Thanks, Count.

[medeak]

6. Fatha fatha!

nt

[LowerManhattanite]

2. He Swung like Mantle!

Jumpin' at the Woodside

One O'Clock Jump

Your Red Wagon (with "Mr. Five-by-Five Jimmy Rushing)

my faves by The Count and his Orchestra.

Happy Birthday, Count!