Moten Swing – 2004
Count Basie Orchestra
The Basie band swinging a 1930s standard
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The Count Basie Orchestra has been a swinging institution since the mid-1930s other than during 1950-51 when Basie was forced by economics to temporarily cut back to a small combo.
The band celebrates its 90th birthday in 2025 and continues to travel the world, surviving Basie’s death in 1984 and continuing under several leaders since then.
Bill Hughes played trombone and bass trombone with Basie during 1953-57 and 1963-2003 and was the orchestra’s leader during 2003-10.
He introduces and conducts “Moten Swing” for the 2004 version of the Count Basie Orchestra.
Pianist Tony Suggs starts the song by at first playing the melody of “You’re Driving Me Crazy” (the earlier tune that “Moten Swing” was based on), tenor-saxophonist Doug Lawrence and trumpeter Scotty Barnhart (the band’s future leader) split a chorus and, with drummer Butch Miles driving the orchestra, the group concludes with some typically swinging ensembles.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald