Photos: The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra Plays Birdland

Birdland is 63, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra is 80, and Frank Sinatra is 100. Gianni Valenti, Birdland owner announced the orchestra and the swinging engine of the Basie Band blasted off with "Come Fly With Me" at the "Jazz Corner of the World" last night. Regardless of how good the fidelity is on your Beats Headphones and McIntosh Amplifier, it doesn't come close to the sound being heard on 44th Street. The original charts might have some wear and tear from page turning by Basie musicians over the years, but the music was clear, precise, and exciting as when the band made their home at Birdland in the 1950's. Scotty Barnhart is now the Director of The Count Basie Orchestra which has won 18 Grammy Awards and 20 Downbeat and Jazz Times polls. He follows in a long line of Jazz greats that have led the orchestra since Basie's passing in 1984. Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Brover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, and Dennis Mackrel have been prior directors. Scotty pointed out that the band might have been formed in 1935, but they are very current and are on Facebook, and have a great website. Carmen Bradford, a Basie choice supplied the vocals.

These are the Basie musicians on the Birdland stage last night:

Scotty Barnhart - Director/Trumpet Marshall McDonald - Lead Alto/Flt. Cleve Guyton, Jr. - Alto/Flute/Picc. Doug Miller - Tenor Sax Doug Lawrence - Tenor Sax Jay Branford -Baritone Sax Clarence Banks - Trombone Dave Keim - Trombone Alvin Walker - Trombone Mark Williams - Bass Trombone Kris Johnson - Trumpet Mike Williams - Trumpet Endre Rice - Trumpet Bruce Williams - Trumpet Marcus MaClaurine - Bass Clayton Cameron - Drums Will Matthews - Guitar Bobby Floyd - Piano Carmen Bradford - Vocals

The Basie Orchestra is at Birdland thru May 9th

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

Scotty Barnhart, Director

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

Scotty Barnhart

Carmen Bradford

Carmen Bradford & The Count Basie Orchestra

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

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