Though its namesake died more than 40 years ago, the Count Basie Orchestra is still going strong.
The jazz greats will hit town for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday concert in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., a performance made possible by the Amarillo Jazz Society.
I spoke with Scotty Barnhart, a trumpeter and director of the orchestra since 2013. (This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.)
Chip Chandler: So, I was a trumpet player myself, and there was never a doubt that that was the instrument I wanted to play. How did you come into playing trumpet?
Scotty Barnhart: When I was in fifth grade, in Atlanta, Georgia, I asked for a violin. I saw a student with a violin like a week prior to that, and I just, for whatever reason, was fixated on a violin. So I asked my parents and they said, sure, we’ll get your violin. The day came. Well, I got home from school. I was waiting for my mother to bring home the violin. I’m sitting there waiting. This is September 1974. I still remember this clear as day, man. So when she got out of the car, she had a big smile on her face, and I followed her around to the trunk of the car. She opened up the trunk of the car, and I see this black case in the car. I’m expecting a violin, but when she opened the case, It was a silver Yamaha trumpet. And I have been playing trumpet for 51 years since. It was supposed to be, man. I never even asked about the violin or thought about it again.
CC: When did you discover jazz and then discover Basie?
SB: Well, I grew up in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta under Dr. (Martin Luther) King Sr. … We called him “Daddy King,” and one of the choirs, a gospel choir, was named after him. I got hooked on (gospel) at a very early age. So when I heard Basie, I said to myself, that’s the same thing I hear in church. The jazz orchestra is simply an extension of the gospel choir; it’s just that the jazz orchestra is more sophisticated rhythmically and harmonically. Then when I was 11 or 12, I saw Basie. He was in Atlanta, and my high school band director walked up to me and said, “You’re going.” I sat in the front row, and man, it changed my life. That was 1979 or 1980. I saw them again two years after that, and I met everybody in the orchestra except Basie. I knew at that point that I would be in the orchestra someday. That was June of 1982, and I got the call nine or 10 years later.
CC: I was going to ask if you could have even imagined that you would be leading this orchestra, but it sounds like, yeah, you could.
SB: It’s funny. Some of the older gentlemen when I first joined, they let me know I was in line for it, and I hadn’t even really thought about it. Now, I can see it clearly that I was being prepared for it.
CC: What was it about Count Basie that was so special?
SB: He was a nice guy, man. In his very last interview, he was asked how he wanted to be remembered, and he said, “As a nice guy.” But I don’t want to gloss over the fact that he was an incredibly smart man. Think about it, man: This guy fronted an orchestra for 50 years, and 42 years after he passed away, it’s still going. That’s crazy. That’s absolutely crazy. And it sounds like his orchestra. It doesn’t sound like anyone else. You can close your eyes and within three seconds, you know it’s the Count Basie Orchestra. That’s a big deal, and that’s not something I take lightly. But bottom line, he was a nice guy. He was never too busy to say hello or take a photo.
CC: Describe his sound for folks who may not be as familiar with it.
SB: It’s a sound based on the blues, but the X factor is the acoustic guitar. Most big bands have piano, bass and drums; they do not have the guitar. That’s how you know it’s us. Freddie Green sat in that chair for 50 years, right with Basie, and that’s a long time to develop a rapport musically. They really put that together so solidly that it left us in a great position. When you hire new people, they know that they have to meet or exceed the person that they’re replacing, and that’s one of the reasons we’re still going strong—because we have the right people.
Tickets are $34 to $51, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096.
This week also sees a full lineup of Juneteenth celebrations, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
The Black Historical Cultural Center, 901 N. Hayden St., will host an educational resources night at 6:30 p.m. today, a financial resources night at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and the second-annual Juneteenth Brunch at 11 a.m. Friday.
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 118 S. Van Buren St., will host a gospel jubilee at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The annual Juneteenth Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, running from the Black Historical Cultural Center to Bones Hooks Park, 2000 N. Hughes St., where the community celebration will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Festivities wrap Sunday with a Father’s Day church service at 10 a.m. at Bones Hooks Park; basketball games at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. at Tascosa High School, 3921 Westlawn Ave.; and more.
For more, visit the Juneteenth Celebration group on Facebook.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Katsuk: 5 p.m. Tuesday; The Handle Bar & Grill, 3514 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-803-9538
Colton Amerson: 7 p.m. Tuesday; Hummers Sports Café, 2600 Paramount Blvd., Suite B2; 806-353-0723
Starlight Theater with Stealing Handshakes with Dani Bee: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Amarillo Sod Poodles vs. Midland Rockhounds: 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, continues through Sunday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547
Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series featuring Polk Street Jazz: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; after party at 9 p.m.; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre Porch; free; 806-371-5340
High Noon on the Square with The Huckleberries: 11:45 a.m. Wednesday; 501 S. Fillmore St.; lunch $12; 806-372-6744
Music at Wellington Square Courtyard featuring Polk Street Jazz: 7 p.m. Wednesday; 1619 S. Kentucky St.; $15 cash or Venmo at the door; kids ages 10 and younger free; 806-584-9571
Wibby Wednesday with Kenzie Crabtree & Friends: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; 806-576-3396
MC Chris: 8 p.m. Wednesday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Amarillo Tattoo Expo: 1 to 11 p.m. Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday; Spark by Hilton Amarillo East, 2315 E. Interstate 40; tickets $10 to $25, weekend passes $40; info@inkmasterstattooshow.com
Cameron James Smith: 6 p.m. Thursday; Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, 3506 Soncy Road; 806-398-2003
Bryan Robertson: 7 p.m. Thursday; 9th Inning Brews and Bites, 3130 S. Soncy Road; 806-358-2222
Music in the Gardens featuring The Rien Nash Band: 7 p.m. Thursday; Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; admission $10 nonmembers, $5 members; 806-352-6513
Touching Voodoo: 7 p.m. Thursday; Georgia Street Taphouse, 2001 S. Georgia St.; 806-803-7000
June Jams with Velvet Funk: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Neblett Park, 508 16th St. in Canyon; free; 806-656-6833
Austin Meade: 8 p.m. Thursday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Lights, Camera, CORE: From Our Lens to the World: 6:30 p.m. Friday; Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive; free; corefilms24@gmail.com
Bryan Robertson: 7 p.m. Friday; 9th Inning Brews and Bites, 3130 S. Soncy Road; 806-358-2222
Jaywalking: 7 p.m. Friday; Teddy Jack’s, 5080 S. Coulter St.; 806-322-0113
Rupert Wates: 7 p.m. Friday; Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A; $15 suggested donation; 806-576-2480
VHX: The Van Halen Experience: 7 p.m. Friday; Bliss Horizon, 9700 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; tickets $15 in advance and $20 day of, plus fees; 806-676-8256
The Buster Bledsoe Band: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; free; 806-335-5644
Boss 420: 8 p.m. Friday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Mike Ryan: 8 p.m. Friday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; tickets $30.95 to $55.70, plus fees; 806-804-3000
Yesterday’s Fable: 8 p.m. Friday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Movie on the Lawn: 8:30 p.m. Friday; Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon; free; 806-651-2244
Dan Johnson: 9 p.m. Friday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Logan Ellis & The Fever Dream: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Plemons Bridge: 9 p.m. Friday; 2801 S. Virginia St.; no cover; 806-352-3317
Sal & The Stonewall Hippies with Landon Fisher: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Yellow City Comedy: 9 p.m. Friday; Butler’s Martini Bar, 703 S. Polk St.; tickets $10; 806-359-8003
Canyon Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; continues through Sept. 26; Fourth Avenue and 15th Street in Canyon; 806-567-0746
Sunset Marketown: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; continues through Sept. 19; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; 806-354-8802
Great American Ride: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; Tripp’s Harley-Davidson, 6040 W. Interstate 40; 806-352-2021
Curb-A-Con: noon to 7 p.m. Saturday; 1010 S. Fannin St.; free; clemmonsart@protonmail.com
Amarillo Heist screening: 3 p.m. Saturday; Ordway Auditorium on Amarillo College’s Washington Street campus; free; ludditepictures.com/
Tex-Ozz Fest 2026: 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday; Rockwell Event Center, 16307 Interstate 27; tickets $20; 806-683-2156
Willie Chuck: 6 p.m. Saturday; Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541; 806-488-2214
Bring Me the Gypsee: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; free; 806-335-5644
The Chad Feemster Band: 8 p.m. Saturday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Next Stop Comedy: 8 p.m. Saturday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Back in the Saddle: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Jason Eady & The Midnight River Choir: 9 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Moon Dog: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
Alamo Park Live with The Chad Feemster Band and Fuerza Imparable: 3 p.m. Sunday; El Alamo Park, 16th Avenue and Roberts Street; free; 806-676-5160
The Tejas Brothers: 5 p.m. Sunday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Wild Life: 9 p.m. Sunday; The 806 Coffee + Café, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover, donations accepted; 806-322-1806
Pop-Up Party in the Park: 5:30 p.m. Monday; South Georgia Elementary School Park, 5018 Susan Drive; free; 806-378-3036
Starlight Theater with Big G & The Tradewinds with Brandon Trey Borup: 6:30 p.m. June 23; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series featuring Esquire Jazz: 7:30 p.m. June 23; after party at 9 p.m.; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre Porch; free; 806-371-5340
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: animated sequel Toy Story 5 and mournful actioner The Death of Robin Hood (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: Species (Tuesday and Thursday, Cinergy); Ponyo (Wednesday, Hollywood 16); KPop Demon Hunters Singalong (Wednesday and Thursday, Hollywood 16); The Wild Robot (Tuesday through Thursday, Cinergy); Ocean’s 11 25th anniversary (Sunday and June 24, Hollywood 16); Raiders of the Lost Ark 45th anniversary (Sunday, Hollywood 16); Shrek Forever After (Monday and June 24-25; Hollywood 16); The Boss Baby (Monday through June 25, Cinergy); Child’s Play 3 (June 23 and 25, Cinergy)
