How did Count Basie’s band use riffs and head arrangements?

Count Basie’s band utilized riffs and head arrangements as foundational elements of the Kansas City style, which prioritized a loose, relaxed rhythmic feel over the more rigid arrangements common in other cities.1

• Riffs: These were syncopated, repeating musical phrases. The band typically employed them antiphonally, with one section of the orchestra—such as the saxophones—playing a riff in response to another section, like the brass.1
• Head Arrangements: Because many of Basie’s sidemen in the 1930s were not proficient at reading sheet music, the band relied on "head" arrangements. These were compositions that the musicians collectively created and memorized by ear rather than relying on written-out charts.23

This approach allowed the orchestra to maintain a forceful drive and the spontaneous energy of a small combo, providing an ideal framework for the band’s legendary soloists to improvise.23