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Basie

American

[bey-see] / ˈbeɪ si /

noun

William Count, 1904–84, U.S. jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer.

Basie British

/ ˈbeɪsɪ /

noun

William , known as Count Basie . 1904–84, US jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer: associated particularly with the polished phrasing and style of big-band jazz

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Both Basie and Hampton offer a selection of big-band boogie-woogie numbers, while Basie also features the majestic blues singer Jimmy Rushing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

I just assume he couldn't recollect or revel in discussions about Count Basie and Duke Ellington and sitting on the bandstand and blowing trumpet with many other people, especially in Hollywood.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2025

He also played with Billie Holiday at 14, and got taken under the wings of bandleader Count Basie and trumpeter Clark Terry.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2024

Ellington, Basie and Armstrong successfully navigated that perilous world, and these self-described gadabouts got to see this vast country in a way few Americans, and almost no Black Americans, did then.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2024

When the radio warmed up, I found a Count Basie song that was perfect and started my show.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023