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.
I'll Remember April
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
In Count Basie's song, "I'll Remember April" the lyrics reveal a bittersweet sentimentality towards a past relationship. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song with "This lovely day will lengthen into evening, We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had." The singer sets the scene of a beautiful day that will soon end and in turn, will say goodbye to all that was shared between the couple. The next line "Alone where we have walked together" indicates that the couple has now gone separate ways, and the singer is left with only memories of their time spent together. However, the singer reframes their emotions as the song progresses with the line, "I'll remember April and be glad," which suggests that while the singer may miss their partner, they are ultimately grateful for the time they had together.
The second verse continues the theme of reflecting on the past relationship, with the singer reiterating their contentment at being loved during the Spring. "Your lips were warm and love and spring were new," describes a time when the couple was full of hope and optimism. However, the following line "I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow," acknowledges that the relationship has ended and they must face the melancholy reality of the present. Yet, the singer remains positively reflective, as they resolve to ". . . remember April and you," one final time.
In conclusion, "I'll Remember April" is a poignant song about the passage of time, love and loss. The singer's bittersweet nostalgia illustrates their acceptance of the end of their relationship but also highlights the joy and beauty that they experienced during their time together.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
The pleasant day will eventually turn into night
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We will say farewell to everything we used to have
Alone where we have walked together
I will be by myself where we used to walk side by side
I'll remember April and be glad
I will recall the memories of April and feel happy about them
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I will be satisfied knowing that you loved me during that particular April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
During that time, your affectionate kiss felt new and refreshing just like spring
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I'm not scared of the sadness that comes with autumn
For I'll remember April and you
Because I will always remember you and our moments in April
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
The fire that we had will eventually die down and turn into ashes
For flames live such a little while
The fire doesn't last for long
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I won't forget about our memories but I won't feel lonely either
I'll remember April and smile
I will reminisce about April and beam with joy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lorenzo Schettini
who is the saxophoneat 0:50 !!!!???? Great!!!!
MrMinowahiro
Wardell Gray !!!!!