Photo Coverage: The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra Plays Birdland
by Stephen Sorokoff
- May 8, 2015
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.
Count Basie Orchestra Comes to Harris Center Tonight
by BWW News Desk
- Mar 18, 2015
William 'Count' Basie started The Count Basie Orchestra in 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. Within a year, America was listening in on popular radio shows throughout the country to hear what would become 'The greatest swing band in all the land!' A phenomenon was born in 1935 that is still going strong today! Harris Center for the Arts is proud to present this legendary orchestra.
Count Basie Orchestra Coming to Harris Center, 3/18-19
by Tyler Peterson
- Feb 25, 2015
William 'Count' Basie started The Count Basie Orchestra in 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. Within a year, America was listening in on popular radio shows throughout the country to hear what would become 'The greatest swing band in all the land!' A phenomenon was born in 1935 that is still going strong today! Harris Center for the Arts is proud to present this legendary orchestra.
Scotty Barnhart Named New Director of Count Basie Orchestra
by Tyler Peterson
- Sep 22, 2013
The Count Basie Orchestra and All That Music Productions, LLC, is pleased to announce the appointment of Scotty Barnhart as the new Director of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. He follows Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, and Dennis Mackrel in leading one of the greatest and most important jazz orchestras in history. Founded in 1935 by pianist William James Basie (1904-1984), the orchestra still tours the world today and is presently ending a two-week tour in Japan. The orchestra has released hundreds of recordings, won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, has appeared in movies, television shows and commercials, Presidential Inaugurals, and has won 18 Grammy Awards, the most for any jazz orchestra. Many of its former members are some of the most important soloists, vocalists, composers, and arrangers in jazz history. That list includes Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jo Jones, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Thad Jones, Joe Williams, Sonny Payne, Snooky Young, Al Grey, John Clayton, Dennis Mackrel and others.
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