In the 1920’s Count Basie took New York by storm and for the next decade set the standard for big band swing. It is said that Count Basie’s big band in the 30’s swung harder than any other.
Throughout the years his band evolved into an ensemble of amazing strength and precision, but also one of many moods and colours.
Basies’ first band produced a string of jazz classics, including One O’clock Jump, The Kid from Red Bank, Splanky, and Teddy the Toad.
In 1957 he released the album entitled “The Atomic Mr Basie” which was and still is acknowledged as one of the all time classics.
Throughout the 60’s, 70’s and into the 80’s the Basie band remained the definitive of big band jazz.
With the standard of craftsmanship within Basie’s Orchestra, no band was better suited to the man they called “THE VOICE” and no singer was as comfortable with Basies’ subtle yet solid swing as Mr Frank Sinatra.
In 1964 Sinatra & Basie recorded their second of three albums. They recorded a tune which later became recognised amongst a collection of many as a distinctive Sinatra anthem, “The Best Is Yet To Come”.