The Count Basie Orchestra live in Cardiff

Experience The Count Basie Orchestra live on December 12th

The Count Basie Orchestra will perform at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, United Kingdom on December 12, 2026. The orchestra carries on the legacy of William “Count” Basie, renowned for a distinctive big band sound rooted in swing jazz. Characterized by its driving rhythm section, call-and-response arrangements, and emphasis on improvisation, the Count Basie Orchestra’s music became synonymous with the energetic dance halls of the 1930s through the 1980s and continues to influence jazz musicians today. The orchestra has maintained a consistent presence since Basie’s death in 1984, touring internationally and recording new material while preserving its foundational repertoire.

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) is one of the United Kingdom's premier conservatoires, offering specialized training in music, acting, stage design and management. Founded in 1973 through a merger of the Cardiff College of Music and the Welsh College of Dramatic Art, it became the first conservatoire to gain full university status in 2007 as part of the University of Glamorgan (now University of South Wales).