Jazz Night with Count Basie

Well, Hank and I are Jazz lovers, and have been for quite some time now. We listen on the radio mostly. Sometimes we pull out our records. We spend many a nice evening together, just listening, sometimes holding hands.

On what we like to call Jazz Night, we put aside our hobbies and chores and spend the time together. Hank smiles at me. I smile at Hank. Hank gives me a wink. I pretend to blush (he likes that, I know). We sometimes dance, though not as much anymore. Instead we talk about how we used to.

Many young people don't know this, but making love to Jazz is quite nice. There's something about it that gets the juices flowing. Makes for some fancy love moves if I may say so myself.

Put on some good old Count Basie and you'll see what we mean.

Hank and I had ourselves an April in Paris the first time we met. No, not the Paris, France or the Paris, Texas. And it wasn't April.

We were at a social gathering and Count Basie's April in Paris started playing. He was at the punch bowls and I was sitting on one of the sofas. He had been eyeing me. I acted like I didn't notice (I was a sly one back then, still am). Ha ha. Well, he set down his punch and came over and asked would I like to dance. I said I'd be delighted, and I most certainly was. He was a looker. And he swept me off my feet. Oh, could he dance.

Now April in Paris was originally composed in 1932 for a broadway musical. It was later picked up by many a great singer. But our favorite has always been Count Basie's 1955 version, and we were one of the first to get to hear it on the 1957 album. One of the first to dance to it. Such fond memories.

Speaking of Paris, in 1968, Blues Alley (the album and the song) came out. I believe it was in Paris that it was first performed; at the very least it was in Paris which the most popular live recording was made. We added that to our Count Bassie collection at some point soon after.

Blues Alley was especially good listening to on hot summer nights. We'd put the kids to bed and turn the music on, open a window, and watch the sunset on the front porch swing, Count Basie's Blues Alley seranading us. We'd kiss, and I'd get pregnant again.

Count Basie liked to mingle as much as Hank and I did. Soon, you could find him all over the place, spreading his talents, always with a smile. One of our favorite performances was when Count Basie played with Nat King Cole.  The two definitely sparked some magic for all to hear and enjoy.

He played for Queen Elizabeth in England. He did a tv special with Fred Astaire. He played at an Inaugural Ball for John F. Kennedy. In 1960 he appeared in Cinderfella with Jerry Lewis, oh we did so love Jerry Lewis, so that was a special treat. And he also appeared on Blazing Saddles, with Mel Brooks. Now I don't care much for Mel Brooks, but Hank gets a kick out of him.

 Count Basie fills Hank and I with fond old memories.  He's been a part of our lives from the very beginning.  when Count Basie died in 1984, we were heartbroken.  But his music still lives on in our hearts, on the radio, on our old records, new cd's and soon on our mp3's.  The world may have changed, but our hot summer nights with Count Basie haven't (well, not that much).

Hank and I hope you enjoyed these videos and our little trek down memory lane.

~Naddy