Count Basie in 1962

Once again, it's JazzWax's Friday at the Movies. Today's showing is Jazz Icons' Count Basie Orchestra, filmed in 1962 in Sweden—the complete performance. Hope you have an hour to spare. Thanks to Dick LaPalm for finding it on YouTube...

 

Comments

[John L Reynolds]

What a wonderful gem! Superb musicianship, humor, all of it - with a TV director who knew how to cover performing musicians. Thanks, Marc.

[Rab Hines]

Thanks Marc,

I forget sometimes just how enjoyable the later Basie work can be. This is a gem - thanks again ( and keep 'em coming.)

[Rich Noorigian]

Basie was always great but when Sonny Payne was on drums the band hit a new high. Sonny's showmanship sometimes overshadowed his superb talent but the man was ahead of his time on the instrument. He had the power, speed and sensitivities of a beboper with a sense of humor that fit Basie perfectly. I can never get enough of Basie with SP on drums. Thanks Marc, you never stop with the great surprises.

[Gene Page]

I had the pleasure of seeing Sonny play twice with the Harry James orch when I was a teenager and Sonny joked that I was their youngest fan. (This was in the mid to late 1970s. I saw them play in Sarasota and later Knotts Berry Farm.)
Sonny was the best in my eyes and I still have a pair of drumsticks he gave me.
Years later, while I was in college (1985), I got to see Count Basie's band at the Clearwater Jazz Festival, and they were great but unfortunately the Count had died the year before.
Jazz continues to be my all time favorite music!