Count Basie
Then as Now, Counts the King
Description:
Jazz great William “Count” Basie comes back to life in this rich documentary, which traces the history of the pianist, composer, and bandleader over several decades.
Filmmaker Gary Keys juxtaposes a roundtable discussion among old cats from the Count Basie Orchestra with recorded performances, including a cameo appearance in “Blazing Saddles.”
Archival clips and a gallery of portraits and snapshots shows the ever-smiling face of a man as vivacious as the grooves he delivers–his good humor suffusing the music and the players going at it all around him, from Lester Young to Ella Fitzgerald.
I’ve heard quite a bit of Count Basie’s music over the years, but wasn’t at all familiar with his personal story.
The dvd includes highlights of his musical career.
I heard many recognizable songs and saw other familiar faces.
My favorite parts of the documentary are the stories from his friends.
They have so many years of history together filled with fond memories and a great respect for this very talented musician.
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