|
| William 'Count' Basie was the pianist & leader of one of the top swing bands during the big band era of the 30's and 40's.
His most famous composition was ONE O'CLOCK JUMP which he introduced as his own orchestra's theme tune beginning in 1937. It remained as their signature theme and can be heard on various Basie sessions and probably its ultimate swing interpretation was captured on the milestone 1966 album "Sinatra At The Sands" on which the Count collaborated with the Chairman!
In 1938, both Harry James and Benny Goodman had separate best-selling recordings of ONE O'CLOCK JUMP and among the other performers who recorded it over the years were Buddy Rich, Glenn Miller, Charlie Barnet, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Sidney Bechet, Teddy Wilson, The King Cole Trio, Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Lunceford, Jimmy Dorsey, Jimmy Smith, Coleman Hawkins and Lionel Hampton.
Other outstanding Count Basie compositions:
BACK TO THE APPLE (Basie/Foster)
BASIE'S JINGLE BELLS (Basie)
BLUE ON BLUE (Basie/Wess)
BLUES IN HOSS FLAT (Basie/Foster)
COUNT'S PLACE (Basie)
EASY DOES IT (Basie/Russell)
FAROUK (Basie/Davis)
HRH HER ROYAL HIGHNESS (Basie/Jones)
SWEET AND PURTY (Basie/Jones)
T.V. TIME (Basie/Foster)
TALLY HO MR. BASIE (Basie)
TELEGRAPH (Basie/Davis)
TWO O'CLOCK JUMP (Basie/James/Goodman)
The latter was a huge hit parade favorite for bandleader Harry James in 1943; it was the official variation on the Count's "One O'Clock Jump" and trumpeter Harry James featured it with his band, The Music Makers", in the 1943 MGM movie "Best Foot Forward".
Biography courtesy of Alan Warner |
Alan Warner
