The story behind puzzle No. 22
Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra · Single · Victor · 1932
Before Count Basie had a band of his own, he played piano for Bennie Moten, one of Kansas City's leading bandleaders. Moten Swing is where you can hear the Kansas City sound turning into swing.
Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra recorded Moten Swing in Camden, New Jersey, on December 13, 1932, for Victor. It is built on the chord changes of the pop song You're Driving Me Crazy. According to one account, audiences at the Pearl Theatre in Philadelphia demanded seven encores.
The song is credited to Bennie and Buster Moten, but Count Basie later claimed that he and arranger Eddie Durham deserved most of the credit.
Basie joined Moten's band in 1929 as pianist and co-arranger. When Moten died in 1935, the band broke up, and Basie formed his own group with several Moten alumni, including bassist Walter Page. That band became the Count Basie Orchestra.
Who's on it
Keep listening
Play One O'Clock Jump, puzzle No. 32, to hear where Basie took the Kansas City sound next.
As an Amazon Associate, Liner Note earns from qualifying purchases.