Count Basic
Biography and Discography
How it all started:
In 1977 Peter Legat, the prospective guitarist, composer and mastermind of COUNT BASIC, moved to Vienna in order to study jazz-guitar at the Conservatory Vienna, commencing in 1980 and completing it with excellence in 1985.
During this period Peter Legat had already produced 2 albums with his former band Incognito.
When Peter Legat brought his project COUNT BASIC to life in 1993, he instantaneously received a record deal. Encouraged by the huge success of his first single "ALL TIME HIGH" in Austria, he flew to London in order to produce his first album. Ernie Mckone invited the cream of the crop of acid jazz musicians to the studio to produce the first album "LIFE THINK IT OVER" .
This was when Peter Legat met the New Yorker singer Kelli Sae. She was won over for this first project and hast been a consistant component of COUNT BASIC ever since.
Kelli is currently living in New York, working around the globe. She is a very busy studio and live-singer with numerous bands and always working on her own projects as well. Just to name a few, she has also worked with: Defunkt, Incognito, Neneh Cherry, Arrested Development, Skoota, DJ Logic, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nona Hendrix, Eric Gadd, Tony Rebel, Ben Neil and many more - and has opened shows for music legends such as the late Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton and P-Funk, the P-Funk All Stars, David Bowie, Bootsy Collins, Toto, Living Colour, Bernie Worell, Inner Circle, The Tom Tom Club
While Kelli Sae is kept busy in N.Y., Peter Legat is always on the run in Vienna. Besides working on his albums, he is a much sought after studio & session player as well as composer, but still finds time to teach guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and lecture at ensemble and songwriting workshops.
Together they are the soul of COUNT BASIC, a group of 11 band members who have achieved an impressive number of Hit-singles, now collected on their Best Of Album
COUNT BASIC-
FIRST DECADE 1994 - 2004
The best of 4 studio albums, 1 live- and 1 Remix-album and incl. 3 new tracks, simply 76min pure pleasure!
1994: COUNT BASIC released their debut album "LIFE THINK IT OVER".
Their first big hit "ALL TIME HIGH" was followed by "SO CLOSE" ,which developed into an absolute long-running success on radio.
With "M.L.IN THE SUNSHINE" COUNT BASIC was even able to deliver a No. 1 hit to American NAC radio, staying on top for 11 consecutive weeks- also achieving top airplay chart positions in Japan, Italy, France and Austria.
A landmark was layed which would yield Count Basic several 1 hits in airplay and sales charts over the next decade, and impress live audiences around the globe at e.g. The Jazz Cafe (London), Tinkoff Club (Moscow), Fabrik (Hamburg), Subterania (London), Head On (Oslo), Jazz Festival (Vienna), Palais Xtra (Zrich) or Hot Club de Paris (Paris) just to mention a few.
1996: second album "MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION"
COUNT BASIC made an international name for itself in the sector of sophisticated pop music with a jazzy touch and has been compared to bands like the Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai or Incognito.
In this field, almost no compilations exist that didn't include one of Peter Legats melodious songs.
The album included a cover version of Maze's "JOY & PAIN" that topped the NAC radio charts within just five weeks, hit 23 of the Austrian album sales charts, and several airplay charts all over the world.
Right from COUNT BASIC'S early days there was a friendly connection between Peter Legat and Austria's own turntable and remix celebs Kruder & Dorfmeister. This resulted in more than seven remixes to be released on the Count Basic "REMIX HIT COLLECTION" in July 1996, and made Count Basic the "most remixed" artist by K & D
In 1997 a "LIVE" album was released for the ever growing fanbase around the world
1999: Third Album: "TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS"
Thirteen tracks including soul, R&B, pop and jazz - partly programmed, partly live - present COUNT BASIC in top form.
The new album features Randy Hope-Taylor (Incognito) and Andrew Small (Moloko), united with Arif St. Michael (Meshell Ndegeocello) and Bumi Fian (Vienna Art Orchestra).
This blend contributes to Count Basics success: various influences brought by different musicians, combined with a European sound, and the elegant guitar of songwriter and bandleader Peter Legat, refined by the expressive vocals of fascinating Kelli Sae.
2003: Fourth Album: "BIGGER&BRIGHTER"
Count Basics 4th studio album features a remarkable musical change: still sounding like Count Basic with the typical vocals of Kelli Sae, the incisive horn arrangements and Peter Legats guitar style, the album has more pop appeal and RnB flavour than the earlier releases. However, the typical Jazz influenced instrumentals that have become a trademark of the Count Basic style can also be found on Bigger & Brighter: "MAYA" a Smooth Jazz song very much in the style of M.L. in the Sunshine and the uptempo club burner "24 BIT SUSHI"i.
2003 COUNT BASIC was ready for the big stages. Having performed over 100 club gigs around Europe the band was bound for the Open Air-, Summer- and Jazzfestivals. A busy year of live performances and touring for COUNT BASIC included a Russian tour through Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara and Novosibirsk in February.
2004: COUNT BASIC- FIRST DECADE 1994 - 2004
Brandmarked by its mastermind and guitarist Peter Legat and the incredible soul vocalist Kelli Sae, Count Basic can refer to an impressive track history of international success: two Smooth Jazz Nr. 1 Hits on US radio charts and more than 75,000 albums sold in the USA only. Nr. 1 Hit on the credible Japanese J-Wave radio station with sales of over 30,000 units, numerous Nr. 1 playlists all over the world and last but not least the success story in COUNT BASIC'S home territory Austria.
FIRST DECADE gathers COUNT BASIC'S highlights over the past 10 years, also including
3 brand new tracks "DON'T SPEAK SO SWEET", "I'M NOT AFRAID" and "YOU SEND ME".
We just finished to record our new CD called "LOVE&LIGHT", it will be released in May 2007.
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