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.
Farewell Blues
Count Basie Lyrics
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I've come to say goodbye,
Altho' I go, I've got those farewell blues.
Those farewell blues make me yearn,
That parting kiss seems to burn.
Farewell, dearie, Someday I will return.
Dreaming of you is sweet,
Someday again we'll meet.
The lyrics to Count Basie and his All American Rhythm Section's song "Farewell Blues" convey a sense of sadness and longing for a loved one as the singer prepares to say goodbye. They express the pain of leaving someone they care about and the bittersweet hope of being reunited in the future. The first lines of the song, "Sadness just makes me sigh, I've come to say goodbye," set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer laments the necessity of parting. The phrase "farewell blues" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the melancholic mood.
As the singer contemplates leaving their loved one, they express their desire for a parting kiss and the hope that they will someday return. The lines "Those farewell blues make me yearn, That parting kiss seems to burn" convey the intensity of the singer's emotions, as they struggle to come to terms with their departure. Despite the pain of leaving, the singer finds solace in the thought of being with their loved one again in the future. The lyrics "Dreaming of you is sweet, Someday again we'll meet" capture this sense of hope and anticipation, as the singer looks ahead to a time when they will be reunited.
Overall, the lyrics to "Farewell Blues" are a poignant expression of the emotions associated with saying goodbye to a loved one. They convey a sense of sadness and longing, as well as the hope of being reunited in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Sadness just makes me sigh,
Feeling melancholy only brings a deep sigh out of me.
I've come to say goodbye,
I am here to bid goodbye.
Altho' I go, I've got those farewell blues.
Even though I am leaving, I am suffering from worn-out blues.
Those farewell blues make me yearn,
Those blues are making me long for something I can't have.
That parting kiss seems to burn.
The memory of our last kiss feels as though it is on fire inside me.
Farewell, dearie, Someday I will return.
Goodbye, my love. I pledge a return even though it pains me to go.
Dreaming of you is sweet,
Imagining a life with you is a charming thought.
Someday again we'll meet.
I am confident that our paths will cross again in the future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Mares, Leon Rappolo, Elmer Schoebel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Cargal
This stands up as well as anything. It represents Basie and his piano perfectly. I first heard this decades ago and I will will be listening to it until I die.