To help celebrate the life of the legendary Count Basie and Jazz Appreciation Month (April), the Count Basie Estate and Primary Wave Music released a brand new, animated video for the classic Basie song, "Jumpin' At The Woodside" on April 26.
Directed by Frank Gryner, the video was inspired by and centered around the iconic "battle of the bands" at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, NY in 1938. The video creatively pays homage to and highlights this historic jazz event by telling the story of rival dogs, unleashed into 1930's era Harlem, racing to get to the Savoy to see the epic battle of the bands between Chick Webb and Count Basie. The dogs rip through the town that is filled with swing centric references in a lock-step with the ionic tune.
Recorded in 1938 by Count Basie and his orchestra, "Jumpin' At The Woodside" is one of the band's signature tunes. The song, which is considered to be the definition of swing, reached number eleven on the Billboard charts and stayed in the top twenty for four weeks after it was released. Over eight decades later, "Jumpin' At The Woodside" continues to be a frequently recorded jazz standard.
A member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, William “Count” Basie was born in Red Bank in 1904. His career includes the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, NEA Jazz Masters Award, Kennedy Center Award, a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and numerous other accolades. Near where he grew up, the Count Basie Center for the Arts, keeps his name alive in his old hometown.
You can listen now to the essential Count Basie songs playlist HERE. For more information on the legendary musician follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit his official website.
