Jazz great William “Count” Basie comes back to life in this rich documentary, which traces the history of the pianist, composer, and bandleader over several decades. Filmmaker Gary Keys juxtaposes a roundtable discussion among old cats from the Count Basie Orchestra with recorded performances, including a cameo appearance in “Blazing Saddles.” Archival clips and a gallery of portraits and snapshots show the ever-smiling face of a man as vivacious as the grooves he delivers and the players going at it all around him, from Lester Young to Ella Fitzgerald.
