Count Basie

Pencil Portrait by Antonio Bosano.

Count Basie Pencil Portrait
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The quality of the prints are at a much higher level compared to the image shown on the left.

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A3 Pencil Print-Price £45.00-Purchase

A4 Pencil Print-Price £30.00-Purchase

*Limited edition run of 250 prints only*

All Pencil Prints are printed on the finest Bockingford Somerset Velvet 255 gsm paper.

P&P is not included in the above prices.

Comments

Count Basie helped define the words ‘jazz’ and ‘swing.’ His style of piano playing was to-the-point and focused on the blues, relying on simple melodic phrases.

In 1936 he founded the Count Basie Orchestra, which featured players like Jo Jones and Lester Young. By the end of the 30s, the Basie band was one of the most popular in the world, with massive hits like ‘One O’clock Jump’ and ‘Jumpin at the Woodside.’

I’ve loved his music for years. There was just something about Bill’s economical pianistic phrasing – the way he could make the briefest of ‘plinks’ an unmistakeable trademark.

At a time when it might have been all over for him, he forged an unforgettable alliance with Sinatra, who responded by swinging harder than he had in his entire life – their 1966 ‘Sands’ album one of the top ten live recordings of all time. Even when succumbing to prevailing popular trends in the 60’s, he could still stamp his distinctive signature all over the music – the ‘Basie meets Bond’ album an obvious example. It’s re-invention of the highest order, and more than enough to leave 007 himself sonically shaken and stirred!

Recommended listening

The Atomic Mr Basie (1958)