As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title "Splanky" is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.
As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and, of course, Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie's organization.
In addition to Basie, the swinging "All American Rhythm Section" of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax), Jack Washington (alto & baritone sax), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Buck Clayton (trumpet), Thad Jones (trumpet), Snooky Young (trumpet), Benny Morton (trombone), Benny Powell (trombone), and Dicky Wells (trombone).
Basie also collaborated with artists such as Zoot Sims and Oscar Peterson, and recorded with ensembles large and small, including the Count Basie Trio, the Count Basie Sextet, and the Kansas City Seven. Notable arrangers included Eddie Durham (who helped shape the Basie Orchestra's sound) and Neal Hefti.
April In Paris
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
I never knew the charm of spring
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to
What have you done to my heart
The lyrics in Count Basie's song 'April in Paris' is about discovering the beauty of Spring for the first time, particularly in the city of Paris. The first stanza explains the persona's ignorance and lack of knowledge about Spring and its magic. The persona never experienced Spring's charm or encountered it personally. The persona also did not expect that his/her heart could sing, and he/she never missed the warmth and comfort that a hug could bring. The second stanza is where the song reaches its climax as the persona found himself/herself in Paris during Spring. The lyrics mention "chestnuts in blossom" and "holiday tables under the trees," most likely referring to the Parisian tradition of celebrating the arrival of Spring. The persona describes the feeling that cannot be replicated, which meant that the experience was unique and one-of-a-kind, and it touched the persona's heart to the point that he/she is left wondering "what have you done to my heart."
Overall, the song 'April in Paris' is a love letter to the romantic city of Paris during Spring. The lyrics express the persona's newfound love for Spring and the charm of Paris in that season. The song conveys the idea that Paris in Spring is a magical and unforgettable experience that can leave an indelible mark on one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew the charm of spring
I had never experienced the beauty of springtime.
I never met it face to face
I had never been physically present during springtime.
I never knew my heart could sing
I had never felt so happy and joyful before.
I never missed a warm embrace
I had never longed for someone to hold me close.
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
It wasn't until I experienced spring in Paris, with the sight of blooming chestnuts.
Holiday tables under the trees
With tables set beneath the trees for a holiday meal.
April in Paris, this is a feeling
April in Paris created an incomparable feeling.
That no one can ever reprise
A feeling that can never be replicated.
Till April in Paris
It wasn't until my experience in Paris.
Whom can I run to
Who can I turn to now?
What have you done to my heart
My heart has been completely captivated and forever changed by my experience in Paris.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore
Written by: E. Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ranranh.3365
Saw him live from the 5th row. He said to the band: "What do you think they want to hear now?". I said (too loud) "April in Paris". And he pointed at me, and then they played it. Unforgettable. I was permanently marked.
@SuperBC10
Wow! Thanks for sharing that. Just think - even if the great man himself had forgot that over time, his subconscious would have YOU etched in as a permanent memory. ❤
@johnchavezjr3312
👍
@CatalinaThePirate
Ah, I love it! What a fantastic memory... 😺
@TheQuantum09
😎 That IS cool!
@trblmkr5139
perfect!
@thatpancakeguy2723
I get to play this song in my high school Jazz Band, and I feel honored to be able to play something this special to so many people.
@thoughtsforthebuilders
Hope you've checked out a bunch of versions and really dug into em! You can learn so much just by really really learning one song.
@joK3323
Got to play this too recently too for my high school band at a gig. 😩
@michaelscott7462
In a few days I will be 64 years of age and I am fighting back tears of joy as I listen to this song. When I look back on my youth growing up in a rural town just south of the Mason-Dixon Line, I am blessed to have had parents who played music like this. This is nothing short of majestic. Dad always said of Count: Nobody swings like Basie. Thanks Dad.