International Archives For The Jazz Organ (IAJO) - The Jazz Organ Scene USA

Count Basie

The Count (*1904 in Red Bank/NJ) very early learnt to play the piano with his mother. When he, at the beginning of the 20's, came to New York, he met there James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. He worked as solo pianist, and music director for blues singers, dancers and comedians.

While acompanying a touring group, Count stayed in Kansas City (1927). Two years later, he joined Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra. After Bennie's death, in 1935, Basie founded his own group of nine musicians. Very soon, this group became famous under the name Count Basie Orchestra.

In the 50's, Count made a lot of tours around the world, especially to Europe (1954) and Japan (1963). He got famous for his cooperation with Frank Sinatra with whom he issued some records. A large numer of albums was recorded under his own name.

Since the mid-70's, Basie suffered more and more from a serious illness which forced him to withdraw from performances. In April 1984, he passed away.

Count's characteristic instrument has been the piano. But a very important encounter was reported by Count: Fats Waller was the organist in the Lincoln Theatre in Harlem when Count Basie first heard him. Basie spent a lot of time sitting in the front row near Waller's organ bench: "One day he asked me whether I played the organ. 'No,' I said, 'but I'd give my right arm to learn.' The next day he invited me to sit in the pit and start working the pedals. I sat on the floor watching his feet and using my hands to imitate them. Then I sat beside him and he taught me. One afternoon he pretended to have some urgent business downstairs and asked me to wait for him. I started playing while he stood downstairs listening. After that I would come to early shows and he let me play accompaniment to the picture. Later I used to follow him around wherever he played, listening and learning all the time."

Count played the organ like he played the piano. He died 1984.

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Discography

The Complete Paul Quinichette EmArcy 175J-5-6(M) released 1952 partially issued on "The Vice President" recorded January 1952 in New York/USA	Paul Quinichette, tenor sax Count Basie, organ Freddie Green, guitar Walter Page, bass Gus Johnson, drums
Collates No. 2 Mercury MGC-129 released 1953 recorded January 1951 through March 1952	Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax John Collins, guitar Freddie Green, guitar Count Basie, organ, piano Ray Brown, bass Art Blakey, drums Jimmy Crawford, drums
The Vice President TRIP TLP-5542 released 1954 recorded October 1951 to July 1954 in New York City/USA	Paul Quinichette, tenor sax Marshall Royal, alto sax Ernie Wilkins, alto sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax, bass Henry Coker, trombone Dicky Wells, trombone Buck Clayton, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Jerome Darr, guitar Freddie Green, guitar Count Basie, organ, piano Bill Doggett, organ Marlowe Morris, organ Kenny Drew, piano Bobby Tucker, piano Milt Hinton, bass Jimmy Lewis, bass Al McKibbon, bass Walter Page, bass Gene Ramey, bass Les Erskine, drums Gus Johnson, drums
The Greatest! Count Basie Plays...Joe Williams Sings Standards Verve Records MG V-2016 released 1956	Count Basie, organ, piano Joe Williams, vocals Bill Graham, alto sax Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Frank Foster, tenor sax Frank Wess, tenor sax, flute Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Henry Coker, trombone Bill Hughes, trombone Benjamin Powell, trombone Wendell Culley, trumpet Reunald Jones, trumpet Thad Jones, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Eddie Jones, bass Sonny Payne, drums
The Swinging Count! Clef Records MG C-706 released 1956 recorded February, July and December 1952 n New York, NY/USA	Count Basie, organ, piano Marshall Royal, alto sax Paul Quinichette, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Henry Coker, trombone Joe Newman, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Oscar Peterson, piano Jimmy Lewis, bass Ray Brown, bass Buddy Rich, drums Gus Johnson, drums
Blues By Basie Columbia CL 901 released 1956 compilation, recorded May 1939	Count Basie, organ, piano Tab Smith, alto sax Earl Warren, alto sax Jack Washington, alto sax, baritone sax Don Byas, tenor sax Wardell Gray, tenor sax Charlie Rouse, tenor sax Buddy Tate, tenor sax Lester Young, tenor sax Serge Chaloff, baritone sax Dan Minor, trombone Benny Morten, trombone Eli Robinson, trombone Robert Scott, trombone Dicky Wells, trombone Buck Clayton, trumpet Shad Collins, trumpet Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet Al Killian, trumpet Ed Lewis, trumpet Clark Terry, trumpet Buddy DeFranco, clarinet Freddie Green, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Walter Page, bass Gus Johnson, drums Jo Jones, drums Buddy Rich, drums Jimmy Rushing, vocals
Live At Newport Verve VS-6024 released 1957 recorded live July 1957 in Newport, RI/USA	Count Basie, piano, organ Sonny Payne, drums Benny Powell, trombone Frank Wess, flute, tenor sax, vocals Ed Jones, bass Henry Coker, trombone, vocals Wendell Culley, trumpet Frank Foster, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Bill Graham, alto sax Bill Hughes, trombone Reunald Jones, trumpet Roy Eldridge, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar, piano Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax Jo Jones, drums Thad Jones, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Marshall Royal, clarinet, alto sax Jimmy Rushing, vocals Joe Williams, vocals Lester Young, tenor sax
Basie Plays Hefti Roulette R 52011 released 1958 recorded January 1952 through April 1958 in New York, NY/USA ext. release 2009 on Verve / Essential Jazz Album EJA 047	Count Basie, piano, organ Bill Graham, alto sax Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Frank Wess, alto sax, tenor sax, flute Ernie Wilkins, alto sax, tenor sax Frank Foster, tenor sax Floyd Johnson, tenor sax Billy Mitchell, tenor sax Paul Quinichette, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax, bass clarinet Henderson Chambers, trombone Henry Coker, trombone Al Grey, trombone Bill Hughes, trombone Benny Powell, trombone Jimmy Wilkins, trombone Paul Campbell, trumpet Wendell Culley, trumpet Reunald Jones, trumpet Thad Jones, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Charlie Shavers, trumpet Snooky Young, trumpet Johnny Mandel, bass trumpet Joe Wilder, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Eddie Jones, bass Jimmy Lewis, bass Gus Johnson, drums Sonny Payne, drums Jose Mangual, percussion Ubaldo Nieto, percussion
Memories Ad-Lib Roulette 500004 released 1959 recorded October 1958 in New York/USA	Count Basie, piano, organ Freddie Green, guitar George Duvivier, bass Jimmy Crawford, drums Joe Williams, vocals
Count Basie And The Kansas City 7 Impulse! A-15 released 1962 recorded March 1962	Count Basie, organ, piano Eric Dixon, tenor sax, flute Frank Foster, tenor sax Thad Jones, trumpet Frank Wess, flute Freddie Green, guitar Ed Jones, bass Sonny Payne, drums
Count At The Organ Verve 511022 released 1965 recorded July and December 1952 in New York/USA	Count Basie, organ Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax Hank Jones, piano Freddie Green, guitar Ray Brown, bass Jimmy Crawford, drums Paul Campbell, trumpet Wendell Culley, trumpet Reunald Jones, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Henry Coker, trombone Benny Powell, trombone Jimmy Wilkins, trombone Marshall Royal, clarinet, alto sax Ernie Wilkins, alto sax, tenor sax Eddie Davis, tenor sax Paul Quinichette, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Jimmy Lewis, bass Gus Johnson, drums Oscar Peterson, piano Gene Ramey, bass Buddy Rich, drums
Arthur Prysock & Count Basie Verve Records V6-8646 released 1966 recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Arthur Prysock, vocals Bill Byers, conductor Dick Hyman, conductor, organ Frank Foster, conductor Mort Garson, conductor Robert Plater, sax, clarinet Charles Fowlkes, sax, clarinet Eddie Davis, sax, clarinet Eric Dixon, sax, clarinet Marshal Royal, sax, clarinet Al Grey, trombone William Hughes, trombone Grover Mitchell, trombone Henderson Chambers, trombone Henry Coker, trombone Albert Aarons, trumpet Phil Guilbeau, trumpet George Cohn, trumpet Wallace Davenport, trumpet Fred Green, guitar Count Basie, piano, organ Norman Keenan, bass Grady Tate, drums Rufus Jones, drums
Basie's Beatle Bag Verve V-8659 released 1966 recorded May 1966 in Hollywood, CA/USA	Count Basie, organ, piano, trombone Bobby Plater, alto sax, flute Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, tenor sax Eric Dixon, tenor sax, flute Charlie Fowlkes, bass sax, flute Henderson Chambers, trombone Al Grey, trombone Grover Mitchell, trombone Bill Hughes, bass trombone Al Aarons, trumpet Sonny Cohn, trumpet Wallace Davenport, trumpet Philip Guilbeau , trumpet Freddie Greenm, guitar Norman Keenan, bass Sonny Payne, drums Bill Henderson, vocals
Basie On The Beatles Happy Tiger Records HT-1007 released 1970 recorded December 1969	Count Basie, organ, piano Bobby Plater, alto sax, flute Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Frank Hooks, trombone Bill Hughes, bass trombone Waymon Reed, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Norman Keenan, bass Harold Jones, drums
The Bosses Pablo Records 2310 709 released 1974 recorded December 1973 in Los Angeles, CA/USA	Count Basie, organ, piano Bobby Plater, alto sax, flute Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Frank Hooks, trombone Bill Hughes, bass trombone Waymon Reed, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Norman Keenan, bass Harold Jones, drums
Basie Jam Pablo J33 J20017 released 1975 recorded December 1973 in USA	Count Basie, piano, organ Louie Bellson, drums Ray Brown, bass J.J. Johnson, trombone Irving Ashby, guitar Eddie Davis, tenor sax Harry Edison, trumpet Zoot Sims, tenor sax
Satch & Josh Pablo 98834 released 1975 recorded December 1974 in USA	Count Basie, piano, organ Oscar Peterson, piano Freddie Green, guitar Ray Brown, bass Louie Bellson, drums
Basie & Zoot Pablo 2310-745 released 1976 recorded April 1975 in New York, NY/USA	Count Basie, organ, piano Zoot Sims, tenor sax John Heard, bass Louis Bellson, drums
Night Rider Pablo Records 2310-843 released 1980 recorded February 1978 in Hollywood, CA/USA	Count Basie, organ, piano Oscar Peterson, piano John Heard, bass Louie Bellson, drums
Yessir, That's My Baby Pablo 2310-923 released 1986 recorded February 1978 in Hollywood, CA/USA	Count Basie, organ, piano Oscar Peterson, piano John Heard, Bass Louis Bellson, drums
The Essential Count Basie Volume 1 Columbia CK 40608 released 1987 compilation, recorded October 1936 through June 1939	Count Basie, organ, piano Earle Warren, alto sax Jack Washington, alto sax, baritone sax Buddy Tate, tenor sax Lester Young, tenor sax, clarinet Dan Minor, trombone Benny Morton, trombone Dicky Wells, trombone Buck Clayton, trumpet Shad Collins, trumpet Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet Ed Lewis, trumpet Carl "Tatti" Smith, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Walter Page, bass Jo Jones, drums Helen Humes, vocals Jimmy Rushing, vocals
Basie And Friends Pablo Records 2310-925 released 1987 recorded December 1974; April 1975; August 1975; February 1978; November 1981	Count Basie, organ, piano Freddie Green, guitar Oscar Peterson, organ, piano Ray Brown, bass John Heard, bass Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, bass Louie Bellson, drums
Class Of '54 Black Lion Records BLCD 760924 released 1990 recorded September 1954	Count Basie, organ, piano Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Ernie Wilkins, alto sax, tenor sax Frank Foster, tenor sax Frank Wess, tenor sax, flute Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Henry Coker, trombone Bill Hughes, trombone Benny Powell, trombone Wendell Culley, trumpet Reunald Jones, trumpet Thad Jones, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Ed Jones, bass Gus Johnson, drums
1939 CLASSICS 513 released 1990 compilation, recorded January till March 1939	Count Basie, organ, piano Earle Warren, alto sax Jack Washington, alto sax, baritone sax Chu Berry, tenor sax Buddy Tate, tenor sax Lester Young, tenor sax Walter Page, baritone sax Dan Minor, trombone Benny Morton, trombone Dicky Wells, trombone Buck Clayton, trumpet Shad Collins, trumpet Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet Ed Lewis, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Jo Jones, drums Helen Humes, vocals Jimmy Rushing, vocals
1939 Vol. 2 CLASSICS 533 released 1990 compilation, recorded April till November 1939	Count Basie, organ, piano Earle Warren, alto sax Jack Washington, alto sax, baritone sax Buddy Tate, tenor sax Lester Young, tenor sax Walter Page, bass sax, bass Dan Minor, trombone Benny Morton, trombone Dicky Wells, trombone Buck Clayton, trumpet Shad Collins, trumpet Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet Ed Lewis, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Jo Jones, drums Andy Gibson, vocals Helen Humes, vocals Jimmy Mundy, vocals Jimmy Rushing, vocals
Count Basie And His Great Vocalists Columbia CK 66374 released 1993 compilation, recorded February 1939 through October 1945	Count Basie, organ, piano George Dorsey, alto sax Preston Love, alto sax Earle Warren, alto sax, vocals Jack Washington, alto sax, baritone sax Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax Buddy Tate, tenor sax George Tate, tenor sax Lester Young, tenor sax, clarinet Elman Rutherford, baritone sax Don Byas, sax Jimmy Powell, sax Tab Smith, sax Eli Thompson, sax Vic Dickenson, trombone Theodore Donnelly, trombone James Johnson, trombone Dan Minor, trombone Benny Morton, trombone Eli Robinson, trombone Robert Scott, trombone Dicky Wells, trombone Emmett Berry, trumpet Buck Clayton, trumpet Shad Collins, trumpet Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet Al Killian, trumpet Ed Lewis, trumpet Edward Lewism, trumpet Snooky Young, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar string section Walter Page, bass Rodney Richardson, bass Jo Jones, drums Rossiere "Shadow" Wilson, drums Shadow Wilson, drums Helen Humes, vocals Ann Moore, vocals Jimmy Rushing, vocals Lynne Sherman, vocals
Verve Jazz Masters 2 Verve Records 314 519 819-2 released 1994 compilation, recorded January 1952 through April 1962	Count Basie, organ, piano Eric Dixon, alto sax, tenor sax Marshall Royal, alto sax, clarinet Bill Graham, alto sax Ernie Wilkins, alto sax, tenor sax Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, tenor sax Frank Foster, tenor sax Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax Floyd Johnson, tenor sax Paul Quinichette, tenor sax Frank Wess, tenor sax, flute Lester Young, tenor sax Charlie Fowlkes, baritone sax Henry Coker, trombone Urbie Green, trombone Bill Hughes, trombone Grover Mitchell, trombone, trumpet Benny Powell, trombone Jimmy Wilkins, trombone Al Aarons, trumpet Paul Campbell, trumpet Sonny Cohn, trumpet Wendell Culley, trumpet Roy Eldridge, trumpet Quincy Jones, trumpet Reunald Jones, trumpet Thad Jones, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Don Rader, trumpet Flip Ricard, trumpet Charlie Shavers, trumpet Snooky Young, trumpet Freddie Green, guitar Buddy Catlett, bass Eddie Jones, bass Jimmy Lewis, bass Gene Ramey, bass Gus Johnson, drums Jo Jones, drums Sonny Payne, drums Buddy Rich, drums Jimmy Rushing, vocals Dinah Washington, vocals Joe Williams, vocals
Flying Home. The Best Of The Verve Years Verve Records 314 521 644-2 released 1994 compilation	Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax Earle Warren, alto sax Ernie Henry, alto sax Count Hastings, tenor sax Ben Webster, tenor sax Cecil Payne, baritone sax Henry Coker, trombone Matthew Gee, trombone Elmon Wright, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Harry Edison, trumpet Lamar Wright jr., trumpet Russell Jacquet, trumpet Roy Eldridge, trumpet Oscar Moore, guitar John Collins, guitar Freddie Green, guitar Joe Sinacore, guitar Irving Ashby, guitar Herb Ellis, guitar Kenny Burrell, guitar Johnny Acea, piano Count Basie, organ Wild Bill Davis, organ Hank Jones, piano, organ Jimmy Jones, piano Carl Perkins, piano Sir Charles Thompson, piano Gerry Wiggins, organ Red Callender, bass Gene Ramey, bass Al Lucas, bass Ray Brown, bass Curtis Counce, bass J. C. Heard, drums Art Blakey, drums Shadow Wilson, drums Jimmy Crawford, drums Osie Johnson, drums Al Bartee, drums Jo Jones, drums Johnny Williams, drums Chino Pozo, congas

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