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.
Fascinating Rhythm
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That pit-a-pats through my brain
So darn persistent
The day isn't distant
When it'll drive me insane
Comes in the morning
Without any warning
I'll have to sneak up to it
Someday, and speak up to it
I hope it listens when I say
Fascinating rhythm
You've got me on the go
Fascinating rhythm
I'm all a-quiver
When a mess you're making
The neighbors want to know
Why I'm always shaking
Just like a flivver
Each morning I get up with the sun
Start a-hopping
Never stopping
To find at night no work has been done
I know that
Once it didn't matter
But now you're doing wrong
When you start to patter
I'm so unhappy
Won't you take a day off?
Decide to run along
Somewhere far away off
And make it snappy
Oh, how I long to be the man I used to be
Fascinating rhythm
Oh, won't you stop picking on me?
The above lyrics are from Count Basie's song Fascinating Rhythm. The song is about a person who is plagued by a rhythm that seems to be stuck in their head, and this rhythm is so persistent that it is driving them crazy. The rhythm is described as "pit-a-pats" through the person's brain and "hangs around" them all day, making them constantly shake and quiver. The person even longs to be the man he used to be, pleading with the rhythm to take a day off and leave him alone.
At a deeper level, the rhythm in the song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggles and challenges that people face in their everyday lives. The rhythm represents the constant pressure to succeed and the challenges that people face in trying to balance their personal and professional lives. The song suggests that these challenges are so persistent that they can drive a person insane, but at the same time, they are also what make life fascinating and worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a little rhythm, a rhythm, a rhythm
I experience a consistent beat in my mind.
That pit-a-pats through my brain
It moves like a repeated pattern in my head.
So darn persistent
It is exasperatingly never-ending.
The day isn't distant
Soon the rhythm will cause me to go insane.
When it'll drive me insane
The incessant rhythm will eventually cause me to lose my mind.
Comes in the morning
The rhythm starts at the beginning of each day.
Without any warning
I don't know when it will start, it just does.
And hangs around me all day
The rhythm persists throughout my entire day.
I'll have to sneak up to it
I need to approach the rhythm discreetly.
Someday, and speak up to it
Eventually, I will need to confront the rhythm.
I hope it listens when I say
I hope the rhythm will heed my words.
Fascinating rhythm
The beat is captivating.
You've got me on the go
The rhythm has me moving constantly.
I'm all a-quiver
I am trembling with excitement.
When a mess you're making
The rhythm causes chaos for me.
The neighbors want to know
Others notice my jitters and wonder what's going on.
Why I'm always shaking
Due to the rhythm, I am frequently trembling.
Just like a flivver
I feel like an unstable, worn-out car.
Each morning I get up with the sun
My day begins early with the rising of the sun.
Start a-hopping
The rhythm influences me to start moving.
Never stopping
I don't cease moving to the rhythm.
To find at night no work has been done
Despite the constant movement, I realize I haven't accomplished anything by day's end.
I know that
I'm aware of the issue caused by the rhythm.
Once it didn't matter
Before, the rhythm didn't have a significant impact on my life.
But now you're doing wrong
Now, the rhythm is harming me in some way.
When you start to patter
When the rhythm becomes too noticeable.
I'm so unhappy
I am not content with the current situation.
Won't you take a day off?
I'm requesting a break from the rhythm.
Decide to run along
Leave quickly and permanently.
Somewhere far away off
Go so far away that I can no longer perceive the rhythm.
And make it snappy
Make it quick!
Oh, how I long to be the man I used to be
I long to be free of the rhythm and return to the way things were.
Fascinating rhythm
The beat is still intriguing.
Oh, won't you stop picking on me?
I implore the rhythm to cease its torment of me.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan Griffin
This is just ultra cool, anybody who gives this a thumbs down needs to grow some ears.
warnerbeachful
Always wonderful.
Christophe Wash
This is awesome! Who is the big band?
Jazzer Jukes
I think it's a hand picked studio band
Kathleen Nicole Fallin
United States Air Force Academy Band
Peter Rosa
Hey, looks like they didn't replace my jazz chair in the trumpet section!!! Funny!!! Pete Rosa 1972-1982 FALCS
浜松Music&Policy霞が関457
ジョージ・ガーシュウィンのファッシネイティング・リズム Z EXPRESS BIG BAND （YAMAHA ） 浜松ジャズウイーク２０１９年
https://youtu.be/XX06wSRE3jc