John Basile
Released in 2019
DownBeat Four-Stars Review
YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=IMmq3JKIFoM&list=OLAK5uy_mMMO_e6tPwzyCdZtO4VM5vrTki41jBSsY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2VJP1jA1Ov3i6s7hOvyYXF?si=xfSfPIMtTsusSTWIflI0AA
About:
Guitarist John Basile returns with an eclectic collection of holiday classics in a latin jazz setting.
“Silent Night” features a layering of textures arranged, recorded, and performed using midi jazz guitar and digital recording techniques. Nylon and electric guitars were then added “live” to create an engagingly fresh set of treatments to these classic holiday themes.
“I like to combine the best elements of current technology with the traditional aspects of using real guitars. It’s the best of both world’s as you combine the craft of predetermined musical architecture in the midi world with true jazz guitar improvisation. I think the integrity of each concept is extremely valid and that comes through clearly on “Silent Night”. I think that’s what really makes it work as a total concept”
A jazz guitarist with over 35 years experience in performing and recording throughout the world John has an extensive discography of 15 solo releases (www.johnbasile.net) and is known for his warm, dark melodic tone and conversational approach to improvisation.
“Silent Night speaks to all things possible when technology marries with the spirit of jazz improvisation.
Track Listing:
1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 3:36
2. Baby Its Cold Outside 4:49
3. Lulladay (John Basile) 3:38
4. Silver Bells 4:10
5. Silent Night 4:06
6. Toyland 3:23
7. Oh Tannenbaum 2:46
8. What Child Is This? 3:34
9. A Child Is Born 3:21
10. Christmas Time Is Here 4:15
11. The First Noel 2:32
12. Auld Lang Syne 2:40
Personnel:
John Basile: guitars; Midi programming
Review:
Jazz guitarist John Basile projects the gentle joy of the season throughout his solo album Silent Night. A skilled craftsman, he unites guitar improvisations with current MIDI programming technology for layers of textures. The clear lucidity of Basile’s elegant fingerstyle style—combined with occasional use of overdubbed guitar parts to create interplay—revives the title track and the other familiar tunes in the 12-track program. (There’s also one original, the dreamy “Lulladay.”) Basile, who has recorded with the likes of guitarist John Abercrombie and vibraphonist Joe Locke, also freshens up the material using Latin rhythmic pulses. Basile manages to convey delicate emotion while avoiding any distracting affectations. His bebop inclinations shine on “Toyland.”
Frank-John Hadley (DownBeat)
