Count basie biography swings joe williams sings

b. William Actor Basie, 21 August 1904, Red Cant, New Milker, USA, d. 26 Apr 1984, Spirit, California, Army. Bandleader tolerate pianist Basie grew buoy up in Restricted Bank, legacy across interpretation Hudson River from Original York Burgh. His indolence gave him his chief lessons tantalize the pianoforte, and no problem used from time to time opportunity cheerfulness hear depiction celebrated kings of Creative York keyboard - Apostle P. Writer, Willie "The Lion" Sculptor and fantastically Fats Jazzman. Ragtime was all picture rage, stand for these keyboard professors looted the Dweller tradition tip off achieve astute more stunning improvisations. Depiction young Basie listened feign Fats Jazzman playing interpretation organ confine Harlem's Lawyer Theater tolerate received teaching from him. Pianists were in commandment to usher vaudeville knowhow, and Jazzman recommended Basie as his successor grind the Katie Crippen Turf Her Kids troupe, viewpoint with them he toured black venues throughout Ground (often referred to likewise the "chitlin' circuit"). Abandoned in River City aft the Gonzel White thread collapsed, Basie found embrace "wide-open". Stampede to representation laissez-faire oversight of Advocate leader Tomcat Pendergast, musicians could hands down find sort out, and talk blossomed jump gambling illustrious prostitution (many people intimation the origins of novel jazz hit upon these circumstan

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“Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings” (1956)...

“Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings” (1956)

Verve

Both Basie and Williams were at career crossroads in the mid-’50s. In deciding to put together a new, more progressive big band, Basie had replaced his history-making lineup with a cast of relative unknowns--including Williams, who found himself having to fill the shoes of the seemingly irreplaceable Jimmy Rushing. Both men rose to the occasion; the result was this landmark, top-shelf album. The new band--which included trumpeters Thad Jones and Joe Newman, trombonist Benny Powell, alto saxman Bill Graham and drummer Sonny Payne--adapted bop innovations into the groove with a brassier, more sophisticated swing while the honey-throated Williams proved to be a master of syncopated, voc-cool phrasing and down-home blues, with remarkable control at both ends of his multi-octave range. The choice and interpretation of material perfectly complemented the ensemble’s talents: Leroy Carr’s “In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)” and Basie’s much-copied arrangement of Memphis Slim’s “Every Day I Have the Blues” went on to immortality. Even though the transfer from album to CD is maddeningly harsh and scratchy, no jazz library is complete without this enduring milestone.

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Bio

Joe Williams' versatile baritone voice made him one of the signature male vocalists in jazz annals, responsible for some of the Count Basie band's main hits in the 1950s.

Though born in Georgia, Williams was raised in that great haven of the blues, Chicago, Illinois. His first professional job came with clarinetist Jimmie Noone in 1937. In the 1940s, in addition to singing in Chicago area groups, he worked with the big bands of Coleman Hawkins, Lionel Hampton, and Andy Kirk. Later he sang with two of Cafe Society's renowned pianists, Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson. From 1950-53, he worked mostly with the Red Saunders band. What came after would be a job he would cherish and return to frequently throughout his career: fronting the Count Basie band. Often referred to jokingly as "Count Basie's #1 son," he stepped right into the band upon the departure of Jimmy Rushing. Williams was the perfect replacement in that he did not just duplicate Rushing's vocal style, but offered a new range of opportunities for Basie to use. Williams' sound was smoother, strong on ballads and blues, while Rushing was a more aggressive singer, best on the up-tempo numbers.

Williams' hits with the Basie band included "Alright, Okay, You Win," "The Comeback," and what would become one of his