

In the '60s, Basie took notable risks with his arrangements and even his choice of pianos. On the album Li'l Ol' Groovemaker....BASIE!, the Count experimented with the hollowed-out texture of a tack piano and still managed to produce his rhythmically robust sound. When covering The Beatles, Basie gave familiar songs like “Help!” and “Come Together” new boppy and funky harmonic profiles.