Count Basie Band - 2nd Jam | Smithsonian Institution

Object Details

Artist: Gjon Mili, 28 Nov 1904 - 14 Feb 1984
Sitter: Count Basie, 21 Aug 1904 - 26 Apr 1984; Lester Willis Young, 27 Aug 1909 - 15 Mar 1959; Buck Clayton, 12 Nov 1911 - 8 Dec 1991; Earle Warren, 1 Jul 1914 - 4 Jun 1994; Jo Jones, 7 Oct 1911 - 3 Sep 1985

Exhibition Label: This group portrait by Life magazine photographer Gjon Mili pictures Count Basie (lower right, in front of the piano) and other members of his band, including celebrated saxophonist Lester Young (center, with black hat). Influenced by the piano styles of Willie "the Lion" Smith and Fats Waller, Basie formed his first group in 1935. For the next forty years, Basie performed and recorded with a frequency unmatched by any other big band. In addition to routinely crisscrossing the United States, he led thirty European tours and traveled eight times across the Pacific Ocean to entertain audiences. In 1961 he gave a memorable performance at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration, solidifying his national reputation. Basie's ability to adapt to changing musical tastes, while maintaining the group's artistic integrity, was a hallmark of this extraordinary jazz orchestra.

1944

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image/Sheet: 26.1 x 20.1 cm (10 1/4 x 7 15/16"); Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16")

National Portrait Gallery

Topic: Music\Musical instrument\Piano; Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses; Equipment\Sound Devices\Microphone; Interior\Studio; Home Furnishings\Drinking vessel\Glass; Equipment\Smoking Implements\Cigarette; Music\Musical instrument\Trumpet; Music\Musical instrument\Saxophone; Music\Musical instrument\Drum; Music\Musical instrument\Clarinet; Count Basie: Male; Count Basie: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer; Count Basie: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Pianist; Count Basie: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz; Count Basie: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Bandmaster; Count Basie: Presidential Medal of Freedom; Buck Clayton: Male; Buck Clayton: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer; Buck Clayton: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz; Buck Clayton: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Horn\Trumpet; Buck Clayton: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Arranger; Earle Warren: Male; Earle Warren: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer; Earle Warren: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Horn\Saxophonist; Earle Warren: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz; Earle Warren: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Bandmaster; Jo Jones: Male; Jo Jones: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz; Jo Jones: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Drummer; Lester Willis Young: Male; Lester Willis Young: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Horn\Saxophonist; Lester Willis Young: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz; Portrait

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4ac51f92e-d517-47e9-b0fa-49be76e6de10