Count Basie

USA, 1935–1984

American pianist and bandleader (1904-1984) from Kansas City. His orchestra worked from riffs and a light, precisely timed rhythm section rather than dense arrangement, a model for later big bands.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Count Basie and 3 artists Count Basie influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Count Basie?

• Fats Waller — As a young man in Harlem, Basie was tutored on organ and stride piano by Fats Waller — the foundation of his spare, swinging keyboard style.

Which artists did Count Basie influence?

• Oscar Peterson — Basie's spare, swinging economy is one of the swing sources Peterson names, and the opposite pole to Tatum in his playing.
• Charlie Christian — The riffing, blues-based swing of the Count Basie band — and Young's place in it — was the musical world Christian's single-line guitar grew out of.
• The Skatalites — The big-band swing under the horn arrangements. Ska in its original form is a Jamaican rhythm section playing Basie's charts.