I think you missed his point. The most crucial years in Basie developemnt happened between 1932 and 1937. In 32 you can still here the stide style but is is starting to change just slightly. By 37 his style has been stipped down to minimalism. No longer can you hear the stirde or any influence from Fats. It's all Basie, fogerd from his long stay in KC and the loose style of playing, that is associated with the KC sound. Had he returned to NY after 32 I don't think his style would have evolved the way it did. We probably wouldn't even be talking about him.CafeSavoy wrote:no one is denying Basie's KC bona fides, just pointing out that you have to consider a person's entire life. Basie didn't go west until he was in his 20's. And if his mentors were guys like Fats Waller, that squarely puts his roots in the new york stride school. Duke Ellington roots are in the same school too, although his idol was the The Lion.
Honesly though it seems like we are playing six degrees of Kevin Beacon just so peopel can justify playing Basie in this arm chair version of HJDF DJ Battle.