European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 31, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes monday March 31, 1986 file photo 1968 count Basle seated at piano above conducts his world renowned jazz ensemble. Basle died in 1984 at the age of 79, but his spirit lives on through his  count s legacy lives on by Ken franckling United press International Hen Bill base awoke to the music of Walter Page s Blue devils one hot morning in 1927intulsa, okla., the sound filtering through his hotel window was one that would have a profound Impact on the future of american music. There was a team spirit and a Bluesy infectious swing to it a musical blend that Basie said just hearing it made me want to  the Man who became known As the count reshaped that Blue devils sound with his big band Over the next five decades in a Way that made him one of the great men in american music. Basie died in april 1984, but his spirit lives on through music recordings and his band which heeded his instructions to maintain that swinging Standard. The Basie sound came from a pulsing four Man rhythm Section and hard driving brass and Reeds 16 men Woven together by the count s spare and precise piano touch. It epitomized swing music and As it evolved the sound and the acceptance of the band helped break Down barriers for other Black performers. The band was an incubator for arrangers like Benny Carter and Quincy Jones for scores of instrumental soloists and singers like Joe Williams. His Basie hits included one o clock jump jumping at the Woodside Swingle the blues Blue and sentimental and april i Paris. The Long awaited publication of Basle s autobiography Good morning blues As told to Albert Murray random houses getting much attention these Days. And rightfully so because Basie s running account of his career is the Story of the evolution of jazz in America. The kid from red Bank n.j., formed his first band around 1935 with the breakup of the Bennie Moten band after its Leader s death. Contrary to the myth Basie did not take Over the Moten group per be. He formed a new band whose nucleus included key members of the old Blue devils bassist Walter big in Page saxophonist Lester Young trumpeter Cran hot lips Page and vocalist Jimmy Rushing. Basie May be Best remembered today for his collaborations with Billie Holiday Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra and for the band Battles with Duke Ellington. But Dan Morganstern director of the Institute for jazz studies at Rutgers University in new Jersey says Basie s legacy is that he was one of the great masters at setting the right  that pulse was powered in these Early years by Basie on piano Walter Page on Bass drummer to Jones and guitarist Freddie Green a steady timekeeper who joined the band in Newyork in 1937. Bass player Eddie Jones who joined the band in 1954 and stayed a decade is still awed by How Basie s sound changed Over the years. For example in the late 40s, Bop phrases which puzzled Many mainstream jazzmen were worked into the repertoire. It was some of the Genius of Basie that he was Able to recognize the times and change with the times Jones told a recent Boston Globe jazz and heritage festival symposium. It was a Good band Jones said. We loved it so much we d often come in an hour Early just to play. We d be scheduled for four hours and Basie was a slave Driver. We d be exhausted afterwards but we made some wonderful  Tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell recalled that Basie had a special introduction for each piece. He never had to Call tunes Mitchell said. He d play the opening and the band was  Mitchell suggests the biggest mistake a Basie Buff can make is in trying to compare the Vintage bands with the later editions. Singer Caterina Valente Tours Europe with the count Basie orchestra. It s like comparing sauerkraut and Oatmeal he said. You Don t compare a 39 band with a 47 band or the 47 band with the 52 band. They were All different bands made up of different individuals who did the Basie  author Murray spent six years collaborating with Basie talking with him recording his memories and spending countless hours on the Road with Basie and the band. I found him to be very much like certain athletes who Are thoroughly idiomatic. They d work things out in their minds and then go out there and run Over everybody. Basie was like that Murray said. He did t have a piano at Home. And he never practice. With him music was a matter of  two years after Basie s death at age 79, his band remains on the Road under the leadership of trumpeter Thad Jones. It still brings to audiences across America that pulsing beat the blending of instruments like colors on a Canvas. And Freddie Green now 74, is still strumming in the rhythm Section 49 years after he signed on to play a gig in Pittsburgh. If you need any More proof that the count s legacy lives on go hear the Basie band or put one of his records on the turntable. Sit Down and try to avoid tapping your feet. It cannot be done. The count Basie orchestra conducted by Thad Jones Tours Germany Austria and Switzerland april 18-May 6 with internationally renowned chanteuse jazz Singer and All around entertainer Caterina Valente. Check stripes Magazine for tour dates