LINCOLN CENTER

Jazz at Lincoln Center, Appel Room
Basie & The Blues

On December 12-13, pianist Eric Reed leads a stellar group of musicians and vocalists to perform in Basie & The Blues in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Appel Room. Sets are at 7pm and 9:30pm. The Appel Room, in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home, Frederick P. Rose Hall, is located at Broadway at 60th Street in New York, New York.

Basie & The Blues features music director and pianist Reed, vocalists Brianna Thomas and Kenny Washington, saxophonists Eric Alexander, and Tivon Pennicott, bass player Yasushi Nakamura and drummer McClenty Hunter performing a selection of tunes made famous by Count Basie, one of the leading figures in the Swing Era.

William James “Count” Basie established 4/4 swing as one of jazz’s predominant styles and solidified the link between jazz and the blues. An architect of the music with an original sound straight out of Kansas City, Count Basie led one of the greatest big bands of all time, featuring an enviable, hard-swinging rhythm section, premiere soloists, and a myriad of hit songs. 

Reed and this group of today’s finest jazz musicians will be “Swinging the Blues” as they honor Basie, the nine-time GRAMMY® award winner and NEA Jazz Master, by highlighting the blues elements that set his orchestra apart. A soulful talent, Brianna Thomas made her Jazz at Lincoln Center debut in 2006. New Orleans native Kenny Washington sings with his own unique Crescent City sound, blending his roots in gospel and jazz virtuosity with modern soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnIlc79Ngn8

Above is a video of Briana Thomas.

And below, Count Basie doing "easy work."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1nYX6SITI