Changes

Initially a virtuosic [[stride]] pianist, he joined [[Bennie Moten]]'s band in 1930 - Moten, himself a pianist, allowed Basie to take over the piano chair, and it was with Basie on piano that the group recorded its seminal 1932 sides.

Initially a virtuosic [[stride]] pianist, he joined [[Bennie Moten]]'s band in 1930 - Moten, himself a pianist, allowed Basie to take over the piano chair, and it was with Basie on piano that the group recorded its seminal 1932 sides.

After Moten's death in 1935, Basie formed his own band with many of the same personnel. He recorded under his own name for the first time in 1936 - the driving rhythm section of [[Walter Page]], [[Jo Jones]] and [[Freddie Green]] transformed the way jazz was felt, whilst the economical, melodic solos of [[Lester Young]] provided an inspiration to the young musicians who would later develop [[Bebop]].

After Moten's death in 1935, Basie formed his own band with many of the same personnel. He recorded under his own name for the first time in 1936 - the driving rhythm section of [[Walter Page]], [[Jo Jones]] and [[Freddie Green]] transformed the way jazz was felt, whilst the economical, melodic solos of [[Lester Young]] provided an inspiration to the young musicians who would later develop [[bebop]].

Basie himself became known for a piano style that was sparse and whimsical, achieving great effect with just a few notes - this was in contrast to his earlier breathtaking two-fisted stride technique.

Basie himself became known for a piano style that was sparse and whimsical, achieving great effect with just a few notes - this was in contrast to his earlier breathtaking two-fisted stride technique.