Count Basie was an American jazz pianist, bandleader and composer who was born on August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey, and died on April 26, 1984 in Hollywood, Florida. He is considered one of the greatest jazz bandleaders of all time and played an important role in the history of American jazz.
Basie began his musical career playing in New York clubs and jazz halls in the 1920s. In 1935 he formed his own band, Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, which became one of the most influential bands of the time. He then formed the Count Basie Orchestra, which became one of the most famous and respected jazz bands of all time.
Basie was known for his light and elegant piano style, as well as his ability to lead an orchestra effectively and create a swinging atmosphere.
He liked to challenge his musicians. He once changed all the music on their desks before a performance. The band had to improvise the whole concert, but it was a huge success.
Count Basie was also a great baseball fan and was known to listen to games on the radio during rehearsals and even between sets during performances. He often liked to stop and announce the score to the audience, much to their delight.
The album
“The Atomic Mr. Basie” is remarkable because it is considered one of the best jazz recordings of all time. It was recorded in 1957 by the famous bandleader and pianist Count Basie and his band.
The songs on the album are all covers of popular songs of the time, but the way Basie and his orchestra perform them makes them unique and challenging. The precision and energy of the orchestra is exceptional, and Basie's piano solos are inspiring. This is a classic album that has been influential for many jazz musicians and continues to be enjoyed today.
Flight of the Foo Birds
Flight of the Foo Birds is often considered one of the most iconic tracks on the album and in Basie's career in general.
The song features a fast, upbeat rhythm section and strong sax and trumpet solos. The title Flight of the Foo Birds is a jazz term that refers to a group of musicians playing together in a synchronized and fluid manner.
This perfectly reflects the interaction between the different members of Basie's orchestra in this piece.
The piece is also known for its unusual formal structure, which uses a repeating pattern that is repeated several times before the piece ends. This gives the piece a sense of movement and progression, reinforced by the saxophone and trumpet solos that follow at regular intervals.
Lil' Darlin'
The song is characterised by its catchy melody and strong rhythm section. It begins with a piano solo by Basie, followed by a trumpet solo and a saxophone solo, before returning to the basic rhythm section. The song is written in the style of swing, which is a style of jazz characterised by a syncopated rhythm and an emphasis on slow beats.
The song is also known for its use of diminished fourth harmony, which is a chord scheme used to create harmonic tension in the music. This adds an extra dimension of sophistication to the song.
Where to listen The Atomic Mr. Basie ?
- Listen The Atomic Mr. Basie on Spotify
- Listen The Atomic Mr. Basie on Deezer
- Listen The Atomic Mr. Basie on Youtube