The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

Wed. Mar 4, 2015 at 7:00pm EST
All Ages
Price: $15.00
All Ages
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Price: $15.00
All Ages
Event Description
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

Churchville-Chili Fine Arts Department is proud to present The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart - featuring an opening performance by the Churchville-Chili Senior High School Wind Ensemble!


The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra
Directed by Scotty Barnhart

In the history of Jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold out concerts all over the world, with members personally chosen by him, for nearly 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie, born in 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey; was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and excellence of Jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world. Some of the greatest soloists, composers, arrangers, and vocalists in jazz history such as Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, Sonny Payne, Freddie Green, Snooky Young, Frank Wess, and Joe WIlliams, became international stars once they began working with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. This great 18 member orchestra, today directed by trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, is committed to continuing the excellent history started by Basie of stomping and shouting the blues, as well as refining those musical particulars that allow for the deepest and most moving of swing.


Since Basie's passing in 1984, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, Dennis Mackrel, and now Scotty Barnhart, have led the Count Basie Orchestra and maintained it as one of the elite performing organizations in Jazz.


Current members include musicians hired by Basie himself: regular guest vocalist Carmen Bradford (joined in 1983) and trombonist Clarence Banks (joined in 1984).  Long-time members include Mike Williams (1987, formerly w/Glenn Miller, NTSU 1 O'Clock), Doug Miller (1989, formerly w/Lionel Hampton), and members who have joined in the last 15 years: David Keim (formerly w/Stan Kenton), Alvin Walker, Will Matthews, Marshall McDonald (formerly w/Lionel Hampton, Paquito D'Rivera's United Nations Jazz Orchestra), Doug Lawrence (formerly w/Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton), Cleave Guyton (formerly w/Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington Orchestra), and our newest members: Mark Williams (Howard University),  Bruce Harris, Kris Johnson,  Marcus McLaurine (formerly w/Clark Terry).

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Venue Details
Map of Venue Location.
CCPAC 5786 Buffalo Road
Churchville, NY 14428