iSound

William “Count” Basie Who would you say is the best multi-talented person in the Jazz world? Count Basie! His time era was swing and big bands. While he was on the piano “counting” the keys he also was leading the band from the side. He was born into a house of music. His father, Harvie was a mellophone player and his mother, Lillian, was a piano player. Growing up in a house of music only inspired Count to experiment with sound and play the piano like his mother. Early in his career he worked with Walter Page’s Blue Devil and Bennie Moten. Count went solo after the death of the bandleader, Monten. After a while he was joined by a couple of the members from the Monten’s band. Count had set up a nine-piece band, with the vocal from Jimmy Rushing. Over time broadcasters was playing along with beat of Baron of Rhythm (Count band). They started to refer to him as Count, for his talent on the piano. The mid-thirties is when the band would get their long due break. They were...