Count Basie
Kansas City bandleader
Count Basie (1904–1984) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader whose orchestra defined the Kansas City swing style.
Known for his spare, economical piano playing and tight ensemble arrangements, Basie led one of the most influential big bands in jazz history for nearly fifty years.
Standards like "One O'Clock Jump" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside" became jazz staples.
Large jazz ensemble
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- arrangerOne who orders elements
- directionWay something faces
rehearsal · Kansas City · performance · tour · collaboration · composition · score · debut
Patterned stress and silence
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- danceRhythmic bodily movement
- Lindy HopSwing dance from Harlem
jitterbug · ballroom · shuffle · tempo · bounce · pulse · drive · uptempo
Pictorial screen symbol
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- influencerPerson with promotional reach
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- innovatorCreator of new methods
luminary · hall-of-famer · royalty · tribute · influence · disciples · standard-bearer · institution
big band
Large jazz ensemble
direction · rehearsal · Kansas City · performance · tour · collaboration · composition · score · debut · residency
rhythm
Patterned stress and silence
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- danceRhythmic bodily movement
Lindy Hop · jitterbug · ballroom · shuffle · tempo · bounce · pulse · drive · uptempo · riff
icon
Pictorial screen symbol
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- influencerPerson with promotional reach
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
innovator · luminary · hall-of-famer · royalty · tribute · influence · disciples · standard-bearer · institution · monument
keyboard
Array of input keys
- ivoriesPiano keys, informally
- compingImprovised chordal accompaniment
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
minimalist · stride · accompaniment · touch · voicings · left-hand · octave · fills · solo · tasteful
- musical actsband, group, duo, trio, quartet
- jazzbebop, swing era, hard bop, soul jazz, cool jazz
- Jazz ArtistsMiles Davis, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie
- swing bandsbig band, swing band, swing era, bandleader, Benny Goodman
- Swing Erabig band, swing music, swing, swing era, big band era
- Music Arrangersorchestrator, Quincy Jones