Gianni BASSO 2002

Gianni Basso was one of the lights who began shining on the European jazz scene following the end of World War II. He began as a clarinetist and first played professionally in Germany and Belgium in the late 40's with the Raoul Falsan Big Band. By the beginning of the next decade, he was established as a commercial "GB" or "general business" player in Milan, but one with a steady presence at jazz events, including some of the early Italian attempts at post-fascist festivals. From about 1954, a collaboration with trumpeter and composer Oscar Valdambrini began that resembled the relationship between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, minus the former man's household-name status. Basso studied music in the busy northern city of Turin, where Valdambrini was a homeboy. It was more than just two Italian lads growing up with a fascination for American jazz -this was a case of a tenor saxophone and trumpet finding each other.
This led to all manner of musical possibilities, most notably the easy-to-maneuver-and-feed small combo (not that feeding anyone in Italy is a problem, ever). The partners' group was without a doubt the most popular jazz band in Italy in the '50s, accompanying many touring stars such as Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, Gerry Mulligan, Slide Hampton, and Chet Baker. The engaging style of tenor saxophonist Stan Getz was the primary goal Basso set for himself in terms of having a main man on the saxophone. His many subsequent recordings provide documentation of how he discovered Sonny Rollins and developed his own style from these sources to the point where the Verve label signed him and a top-notch singer such as Sarah Vaughan wanted a Basso baste as sauce on her 1984 serving entitled "Mystery of Man". In the late 70's he founded the band Saxes Machine and subsequently fronted the Gianni Basso Big Band. In his senior years he settled into the comfort of the Rome studio scene, still playing in clubs and enjoying his growing historical stature on the European jazz scene.

Gianni BASSO 2002

Gianni BASSO ts, Andrea POZZA p, Luciano MILANESE b, Massimo MANZI dr, on 4&8 Renato SELLANI p,

The late Lars Gullin, a talented Swedish baritone saxophonist who died prematurely in 1976, is the focus of this tribute. Basso explores nine of Gullin's compositions, plus three alternate takes and a traditional Swedish folk song, and has a cool, lyrical sound reminiscent of Gullin without resorting to transferring a carbon copy-like approach to his instrument. Most of the arrangements are fairly laid-back, except for the brisk bop number "Peter of April". Pianist Andrea Pozza, bassist Luciano Milanese, and drummer Massimo Manzi provide strong support for the leader. Renato Sellani takes over the piano for both duets of "Dedicato Per Renato Sellani" a gorgeous ballad dedicated to him by Gullin. The recordings of Basso, like Gullin, are worthy of wider recognition, as is this warm salute to a musician who died far too young.