All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Among his band's best-known numbers were ''One O'Clock Jump,'' ''Jumpin' at the Woodside,'' ''Li'l Darlin' '' and ''April in Paris.''. The 1950s band showcased the sound and style Basie was to employ for the remainder of his career, although there were to be occasionaland successfulexperiments such as Afrique (1970), an album of African rhythms and avant-garde compositions that still managed to remain faithful to the overall Basie sound. He worked as an orchestrator and arranger for the film The Color Purple. William Basie was born at 229 Mechanic Street on August 21, 1904. So he called the pianist "Count," with Basie not realizing just how much the name would catch on as a form of recognition and respect in the music world. Whereas other pianists were noted for technical flash and dazzling dexterity, Basie was known for his use of silence and for reducing his solo passages to the minimum amount of notes required for maximum emotional and rhythmic effect. A brother, James, died when William was a young boy. [11] " Police deemed it suicide, Kuehl having supposedly jumped from her hotel room, although there was no proof of this", [3] and her family believes she may have been murdered. From Bill to Count. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Sources:[22][23]. [18] He was given a military burial later in 2021. This page is updated often with latest details about Count Basie. The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie in 1935 and recording regularly from 1936. The Sun is about vitality and is the core giver of life. [12], Nestico married his second wife, Shirley, in 1995, and was married to her until his death. ''He was a wonderful man. But the obvious talents of another young Red Bank drummer, Sonny Greer, who was Duke Ellington's drummer from 1919 to 1951, discouraged young Basie and he switched to piano. Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Oscar Peterson and Quincy Jones were among the stars to pay tribute. His group, Count Basie and his Cherry Blossoms, was an outgrowth of Bennie Motens band in Kansas City. Though rooted in the riff style of the 1930s swing-era big bands, the Basie orchestra played with the forceful drive and carefree swing of a small combo. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. Basie benefited greatly from his association with Granz and made several recordings during the 70s that rank among his best work. One famous instance of his irritable temper was in the spring of 1936, during a jam session at the Reno Club in Kansas City. In September 1944, Young and Jo Jones were in Los Angeles with the Basie Band when they were inducted into the U.S. Army. Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.''. To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine- piece band to 13 pieces. The impact Basie had can be seen across the country. I had never heard the blues played like that. Young was the subject of an opera, Prez: A Jazz Opera, that was written by Bernard Cash and Alan Plater and broadcast by BBC television in 1985. ''He was the only leader in the business who ever went out of his way to help me,'' Mr. Basie said later. He also received a distinguished alumni award from Duquesne, and in 1994 was inducted into Duquesne's "Century Club". Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch. Try again later. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Basie of Freeport. I said the minute the brass got out of hand and blared and screeched instead of making every note mean something, there'd be some changes made. It is also known as being the most generous and noble of signs. The Black Music Association honored Mr. Basie in 1982 with a gala at Radio City Music Hall. In a partnership with Billy May, Nestico was involved in the transcription, arranging, and re-recording of 630 big band songs originally recorded in the 1930s and 1940s. He subsequently led a number of small groups that often included his brother, drummer Lee Young, for the next couple of years; live and broadcast recordings from this period exist. People born under this sign are energetic and excitable. On December 8, 1957, Young appeared with Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, and Gerry Mulligan in the CBS television special The Sound of Jazz, performing Holiday's tune "Fine and Mellow." The Count Basie Theatre in Redbank, New Jersey. It was a loose and swinging band, built around distinctively individualistic solos by Lester Young, Herschel Evans, Buddy Tate, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, Dickie Wells, Vic Dickenson and, primarily, Mr. Basie himself. There is a problem with your email/password. [19][20][4], Nestico received honorary Doctor of Music degrees from Duquesne University and in 2005 from Shenandoah University. ''When they let you in the door,'' Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic, reported, ''it was like jumping into the center of a whirlwind. Count Basie Birth Name: William James Basie Occupation: Pianist Place Of Birth: Red Bank Date Of Birth: August21, 1904 Date Of Death: April 26, 1984 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Black Nationality: American Count Basie was born on the 21st of August, 1904. standing for detention barracks).[16]. [4] to Lizetta Young (ne Johnson), and Willis Handy Young, originally from Louisiana. His second great band, from the 1950s onwards, relied more on arrangements, typically from Neil Hefti and Ernie Wilkin's. Holiday toured with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1937. Click to reveal Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 - March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. [4] Lester had two siblings a brother, Leonidas Raymond, known as Lee Young, who became a drummer, and a sister, Irma Cornelia. This is a carousel with slides. He was sometimes known as Papa Jo Jones to distinguish him from younger . The Basie orchestra had several hit recordings during the late 1930s and early 40s, among them Jumpin at the Woodside, Every Tub, Lester Leaps In, Super Chief, Taxi War Dance, Miss Thing, Shorty George, and One OClock Jump, the bands biggest hit and theme song. Young joined Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic troupe in 1946, touring regularly with JATP over the next 12 years. In 1950, when big bands were falling apart, Mr. Basie cut down to an eight-piece group but by 1952 he was leading a big band once again. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [4][12], Nestico published nearly 600 numbers for school groups and many for professional big bands. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. People of this zodiac sign like to be admired, expensive things, bright colors, and dislike being ignored, facing difficulties, not being treated specially. Nestico continued to provide arrangements for Basie until Basie's death in 1984, and four of Nestico's collaborations with Basie earned Grammy . His first marriage was to Beatrice Tolliver, in Albuquerque, on 23 February 1930. Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch. (Count Basie), Of course, there are a lot of ways you can treat the blues, but it will still be the blues. (Count Basie), Im saying: to be continued, until we meet again. He got used to seeing me, as though I were part of the show. In August 1944, Young appeared alongside drummer Jo Jones, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, and fellow tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet in Gjon Mili's short film Jammin' the Blues. These performances were generally well attended by other drummers such as Max Roach and Roy Haynes. The family always owned a piano, and Lilly Ann paid twenty-five cents per lesson to . Young's solo was brilliant, acclaimed by some observers as an unparalleled marvel of economy, phrasing and extraordinarily moving emotion; Nat Hentoff, one of the show's producers, later commented, "Lester got up, and he played the purest blues I have ever heard in the control room we were all crying. Try again. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! For many of the other participants, the photo shoot was the last time they saw him alive; he was the first musician in the famous photo to pass away. Well, that was the last time I was ever introduced as Bill Basie. In addition, he played trombone, in the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, and Charlie Barnet. His playing showed reliance on a small number of clichd phrases and reduced creativity and originality, despite his claims that he did not want to be a "repeater pencil" (Young coined this phrase to describe the act of repeating one's own past ideas). cemeteries found in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [20] His second was to Mary Dale. Failed to remove flower. As a pianist Basie was equally great and was intensely rhythmic, using as few notes as possible. GREAT NEWS! Mr. Hammond spread the word about the Basie band, went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. [3], Lester Young was born in Woodville, Mississippi, on August 27, 1909. Straub was inspired by Young's appearance on the 1957 CBS-TV show The Sound of Jazz, which he watched repeatedly, wondering how such a genius could have ended up "this present shambles, this human wreckage, hardly able to play at all". The band broadcast from the Reno Club on an experimental radio station. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He recorded with trumpeter Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders in 1931, and later joined pianist Count Basie's band in 1934. He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz bands in history. Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] Jones moved to Alabama, where he learned to play several instruments, including saxophone, piano, and drums. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. In 1979, Jones was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Birmingham, Alabama musical heritage. The Blue Devils was the first big band I ever had a chance to get close to and really listen to, and it was the greatest thing I had ever heard. [4][5][6][7] After leaving the military, he completed a degree in music education at Duquesne University. Count was 79 years old at the time of death. Early "in person" recordings. Young did not fight the charges and was convicted. [1], Known for his hip, introverted style,[2] he invented or popularized much of the hipster jargon which came to be associated with the music. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. [4] In 1939, he wrote his first arrangement. This classic session finds the great tenor in particularly expressive form.[19]. The band flopped at a Pittsburgh hotel that had never booked a jazz band before. But it sure sounds good.. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas. In the 1986 film Round Midnight, the fictional main character Dale Turner, played by Dexter Gordon, was partly based on Young incorporating flashback references to his army experiences, and loosely depicting his time in Paris and his return to New York just before his death. Billie and Lester met at a Harlem jam session in the early 30s and worked together in the Count Basie band and in nightclubs on New York's 52nd St. At one point Lester moved into the apartment Billie shared with her mother, Sadie Fagan. There was a problem getting your location. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Outstanding soloists such as tenor saxophonists Lucky Thompson, Paul Quinichette, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis and trumpeters Clark Terry and Charlie Shavers, figured prominently. Try again later. It featured such jazzmen as tenor saxophonists Lester Young (regarded by many as the premier tenor player in jazz history) and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry Sweets Edison, and trombonists Benny Morton and Dicky Wells. He eventually relocated the Cherry Blossoms to Chicago, then to New York City. During the 1960s and '70s, Basie recorded with luminaries like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b3f35bc02472d Count Basie was a Leo and was born in the G.I. Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One OClock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. In contrast to the prevailing jazz drum style exemplified by Gene Krupa's loud, insistent pounding of the bass drum on each beat, Jones often omitted bass drum playing altogether. Courtesy of the artist. From the Grand Terrace, it moved on to New York and Roseland Ballroom (playing opposite Woody Herman's new, young band) where listeners complained that it was out of tune (not a surprising reaction since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). (Fans distinguish the two major eras in Basie bands as the Old Testament and New Testament.) The Basie orchestra of the 1950s was a slick, professional unit that was expert at sight reading and demanding arrangements. The band will continue under the guidance of Aaron Woodward, an adopted son of Mr. Basie who has worked closely with the orchestra leader during the last year. The ''book'' of this early Basie band was based on blues and riffs developed on a blues structure. Despite the presence of Lester Young and Herschel Evans in the saxophone section, Buck Clayton in the trumpet section, Jo Jones on drums, with Jimmy Rushing and, briefly, Billie Holiday as vocalists, the Basie band struggled for a year after it left Kansas City. We will continue to update information on Count Basies parents. To use this feature, use a newer browser. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Basie is a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame as well as the Blues Hall of Fame. Count Basie was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a century. Unostentatious as Mr. Basie appeared, his presence was a vital factor in directing his band or any group of musicians with whom he might be playing. Gradually, member by member, the Count Basie Orchestra was born, and . The pianist Count Basie died at the age of 79. Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday morning at Doctors' Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. During the 1940's, many of the great jazz musicians of the decade passed through the band, among them Illinois Jacquet, Don Byas, Wardell Gray, Paul Quinichette, Lucky Thompson, J. J. Johnson, Paul Gonsalves and Clark Terry. Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Many of the members, like Lester "Prez" Young, drifted into Basie's orbit around the time of Moten's death in 1935. He emerged from this treatment improved. First commercially issued collection of Young as band leader. During 1950 and 51, economy forced Basie to front an octet, the only period in his career in which he did not lead a big band. Count Basie, byname of William Basie, (born August 21, 1904, Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.died April 26, 1984, Hollywood, Florida), American jazz musician noted for his spare, economical piano style and for his leadership of influential and widely heralded big bands. His daughter, Diane Basie, now 71 and living in Florida. From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging onto every note, sitting behind him all the time. Wayne Shorter, then of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, composed a tribute, called "Lester Left Town". 'No,' I said, 'but I'd give my right arm to learn. [8] He became a member of the Bostonians, led by Art Bronson, and chose tenor saxophone over alto as his primary instrument. In 1978 she was found dead on a Washington, D.C. sidewalk, [3] [8] [10] after attending a Count Basie concert. He recorded less often with his big band during this era (although when he did, the results were outstanding), concentrating instead on small-group and piano-duet recordings. Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday. I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, Count Basie. Jones's style influenced the modern jazz drummer's tendency to play timekeeping rhythms on a cymbal, that is now known as the ride cymbal. Young left the Basie band in late 1940. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. In 1935, Basie formed his own jazz orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. Holiday broke new ground with Shaw, becoming one of the first female . For a smaller band, the Savoy Sultans had a great swing thing going. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The early Basie band was also noted for its legendary soloists and outstanding rhythm section. Astrological Sign: Leo. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The 1994 documentary about the 1958 Esquire "A Great Day in Harlem" photograph of jazz musicians in New York, contains many remembrances of Young. Here is all you want to know, and more! He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. His autobiography, The Gift of Music, was published in 2009. Oops, we were unable to send the email. When Bennie Moten died in 1935, the band disintegrated and Mr. Basie organized a small band to play at the Reno Club in Kansas City that became the nucleus of the band with which he gained his initial fame. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Death rate from Alzheimer's. Death rate from cancer. Jazz Musician. He's not limited to anything. Along with Duke Ellington, Count Basie is regarded as one of the two most important and influential bandleaders in the history of jazz. He was represented at the ceremony by his children Lester Young Jr and Yvette Young.[36]. Jonathan David Samuel Jones (October 7, 1911 - September 3, 1985) [1] was an American jazz drummer. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? [13] Playing on her name, he would call her "Lady Day." Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. With vocals by Jimmy Rushing, the band set up shop to perform at Kansas City's Reno Club. Don Byron recorded the album Ivey-Divey in gratitude for what he learned from studying Lester Young's work, modeled after a 1946 trio date with Buddy Rich and Nat King Cole. Updates? This effort eventually resulted in the release of 63 albums by Time Life. You never got tired of that business at the end.'' Played for Kennedy and Reagan. Unlike many white musicians, who were placed in band outfits such as the ones led by Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw, Young was assigned to the regular army where he was not allowed to play his saxophone. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Performance & security by Cloudflare. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Although they were recorded in New York (in 1938, with a reunion in 1944), they are named after the group, the Kansas City Seven, and comprised Buck Clayton, Dicky Wells, Basie, Young, Freddie Green, Rodney Richardson, and Jo Jones. Resend Activation Email. Omissions? When we played pop tunesand, naturally, we had toI wanted those pops to kick! In 1981, Mr. Basie was honored along with Cary Grant, Helen Hayes and other stars as a recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. Producer John Hammond heard the band's sound and helped secure further bookings. While with Basie, Young made small-group recordings for Milt Gabler's Commodore Records, The Kansas City Sessions. At age 17, Nestico joined the ABC radio station WCAE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a trombonist. Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary Teach World 1.12K. based on information from your browser. Weve updated the security on the site. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. *How USAFacts measures death. In 2009, Nestico said in an interview "I didn't answer, although I didn't think [Johnson's] concept of music was worth a damn. Mr. Basie and his orchestra were scheduled to appear at the Kool Jazz Festival on June 30 in a program that would reunite them with many of the jazz stars who have passed through the Basie band. Death rate by cause. Your IP: The best-known of these appearances is the July 1957 performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, with a line-up including many of his 1940s colleagues: Jo Jones, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet and Jimmy Rushing. Young's career after World War II was far more prolific and lucrative than in the pre-war years in terms of recordings made, live performances, and annual income. ' (Count Basie), I, of course, wanted to play real jazz. He was one of the first drummers to promote the use of brushes on drums, and shifting the role of timekeeping from the bass drum to the hi-hat cymbal. Mr. Basie was, along with Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, one of the pre-eminent bandleaders of the Big Band era in the 1930's and 40's. It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. Once more details are available, we will update this section. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. [6] His family moved to Minneapolis in 1919 and Young stayed there for much of the 1920s, first picking up the tenor saxophone while living there. [30] Another slang term he is rumoured to have popularized was the term "bread" for money. JUMP TO: Count Basies biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. By then a series of records by the Basie band had begun appearing (under a contract with Decca Records by which Mr. Basie was paid a total of $750 for 24 sides with no royalties - ''probably the most expensive blunder in Basie's history,'' said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit - ''Swingin' the Blues,'' ''Jumpin' at the Woodside,'' ''One O'Clock Jump'' (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. During this period Young accompanied the singer Billie Holiday in a couple of studio sessions (19371941) and also made a small set of recordings with Nat "King" Cole (their first of several collaborations) in June 1942. Ronald McFadden, consummate entertainer, tap dancer and musician, died unexpectedly this week, shortly after a performance in downtown Kansas City. He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role in the death of the big-band era. All Rights Reserved. Mr. Basie's wife, Catherine, died in April 1983. He left home permanently in 1932 when he became a member of the Blue Devils led by Walter Page. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Sorry! There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. In 1981 OyamO (Charles F. Gordon) published the book The Resurrection of Lady Lester, subtitled "A Poetic Mood Song Based on the Legend of Lester Young", depicting Young's life. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:11. He left the world an almost unparalleled legacy of musical greatness, having recorded or been affiliated with dozens upon dozens of albums during his lifetime. The funeral service will be at noon on Monday at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 West 138th Street. When is Count Basies birthday? Blues" (with D.B. Instrument (s) Drums. Basie ultimately earned nine Grammy Awards over the course of his career, but he made history when he won his first, in 1958, as the first African American man to receive a Grammy. While he recuperated his band continued to fulfill engagements, frequently with Nat Pierce taking Mr. Basie's place at the piano and sometimes with guest conductors such as the trumpeter Clark Terry, who was a member of the Basie band in the 1940's. Add to your scrapbook. In December 1943, Young returned to the Basie fold for a 10-month stint, cut short by his being drafted into the army during World War II. Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Count Basie, Birth Year: 1904, Birth date: August 21, 1904, Birth State: New Jersey, Birth City: Red Bank, Birth Country: United States. The band itself carried on into the next century, with Thad Jones, Frank Foster, and Grover Mitchell each assuming leadership for various intervals. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The sound was almost frightening.''. When the Page band broke up in 1929, Mr. In 1976, Mr. Basie suffered a heart attack. They had two children: Lester W. Young Jr. (born 1947) and Yvette Young (born 1957). is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". The key factor in popularizing it was a series of repetitions of the final few bars when, as the orchestra seemingly came to the end of the piece, Mr. Basie held up a finger and called out, ''One mo' time! This stemmed primarily from the presence in the rhythm section, from 1937 to the present, of both Mr. Basie on piano and Freddie Green on guitar. [29], Lester Young is said to have popularized use of the term "cool" to mean something fashionable. Through Mr. Waller, Mr. Basie got a job as accompanist with a vaudeville act called Katie Crippen and Her Kids. Mr. Alexander agreed to lend the club $2,500 to install an air-conditioner if it would book the Basie band. Occupation (s) Musician. His autobiography (as told to Albert Murray), entitled Rifftide: The Life and Opinions of Papa Jo Jones and based on conversations between Jones and novelist Murray from 1977 to before Jones' death in 1985, was posthumously published in 2011 by the University of Minnesota Press.[2]. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Basie played the vaudevillian circuit for a time until he got stuck in Kansas City, Missouri in the mid-1920s after his performance group disbanded. Beware, the Count is Here. Young was the subject and inspiration of Prez. ''I wanted my 13-piece band to work together just like those nine pieces,'' he explained. Year should not be greater than current year. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). His studio recordings are relatively sparse during the 1942 to 1943 period, largely due to the recording ban by the American Federation of Musicians. People who are born with the Sun as the ruling planet are courageous, self-expressive and bold. Despite a brief disbandment at the beginning of the 1950s, the band survived long past the Big Band era itself and the death of Basie in 1984. Try again later. ''One night the announcer called me to the microphone for those usual few words of introduction,'' Mr. Basie once recalled.