Count Basie Orchestra

The Count Basie Orchestra has been performing the timeless sounds of swing since 1935. Count Basie (1904-1984) was a bandleader and pianist, a pioneer in the swing era of jazz, and an icon in the jazz world. Along with Duke Ellington, he helped define the sounds of swing for an emerging musical genre. His band, which took many forms under his direction of sixty years, became established as a "permanent jazz institution and training ground for young musicians." Basie, a performer to the end, occasionally played from a wheelchair during the later years of his life. After his death in 1984, his orchestra has continued to gain acclaim in the tradition of America's jazz icon.

Today, the Count Basie Orchestra is comprised of eighteen performers committed to upholding and advancing this "American institution" that the Count began. Directed by Mr. Bill Hughes (trombone), who joined the orchestra in 1953, the orchestra also features many other musicians who have worked or performed with Count Basie, including Clarence Banks (trombone), John Williams (baritone saxophone), James Leavy (bass), and widely-acclaimed drummer Butch Miles. The renowned big band has won 17 Grammy Awards, including awards for "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album" in 1997 & 1999. The ensemble consists of 18 performers who are committed to upholding and advancing the American institution that is jazz. Some members are new, but the core of the sound still swings from musicians hand-picked by the Count himself. In demand for world tours and recordings, the band has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, and they continue to accumulate awards and special recognitions.

The band's performance at Appalachian is co-presented with the Hayes School of Music, with funding by the Hayes Endowment for Musical Excellence.