David Basse - Easy The Hard Way Music

David Basse began his professional music career ....

David Basse began his professional music career in 1969, when his parents trusted the neighbors to keep an eye on him while they vacationed in California. Basse seized that opportunity and turned it into a six-night gig at a local cocktail lounge with a band named “Carroll Lee and the Moonlighters”. This gig was the first small step in mastering many styles of drumming and subsequently learning to sing from the drumset. He stayed with Lee for the next three years, earning his way through high school and onto the road at age 17. In 1974, he landed in Kansas City, after gigs in Denver, Nashville, New Orleans, Winnipeg Manitoba, a trip to LA and various teenaged forays throughout the United States.

In August of 1982 David Basse began his focus on jazz. He made a tough decision: attend his tenth high school class reunion, or take a much-needed gig at City Light, then a brand new Kansas City nightclub located at 7425 Broadway. Little did he know that one night stand with vocalist Pricilla Bowman would turn into almost seven years, five nights a week at the nightclub and an opportunity to rub elbows with politicians, community leaders, and to jam with jazz royalty such as Johnny Griffin, Richie Cole, and Les McCann. The regular members of the band often included Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Carmell Jones, and Basse’s newfound mentor Ahmed Alaadeen.

Meeting drummer Bill Goodwin in 1985 led Basse to try his luck in the Los Angeles. Bill introduced David to pianist Mike Melvoin; a musician that David had idolized from Mike’s extensive studio work and on records by Tom Waits, Frank Sinatra and many others. Starting in 1992, Melvoin helped Basse establish himself in L.A. and to develop a body of original material that continues to grow to this day. West coast bands led by Basse featured Melvoin and other noted musicians such as bassist Andy Simkins, trumpeter Steve Huffstetter, trombonist Slyde Hyde, and drummer Earl Palmer.

In 2003 Basse funded and produced a recording that became a Grammy nominated project for Mike Melvoin. The duo traveled to the east coast and performed at the Deer Head Inn. This legendary nightclub is housed in a 150-year-old Inn in the Delaware River Valley, on the Appalachian Trail. Saxophonist Phil Woods lives just a few blocks from the Inn, as well as many other celebrated artists and musicians. The recording project began when Goodwin brought Basse and Melvoin to Woods’ home for a rehearsal that featured many originals that Woods instantly dubbed, “The American songbook raised up a notch”.

Today, Basse’s ninth recording, “The Hero and the Lover…” is a culmination of over forty years of trial and error, serendipitous miscalculation and a powerful and undying love of art and music. It is a testament to the tenacity that it takes to survive in the face of an international recession and continue to create worthwhile art.

Besides traveling in support of his new recording and publically speaking on the merits and musical heritage of his adopted hometown - Kansas City; David Basse hosts a weekly jazz radio program at the University of Kansas and is the featured male vocalist on “The 12th Street Jump” - public radio’s “weekly jazz, blues and comedy jam”.

Dancing shoes recommended for jazz concert

David Basse Orchestra to perform at Topeka Jazz Workshop

By Bill Blankenship, THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Those attending the next show in the Topeka Jazz Workshop Inc. Concert Series won’t have to limit themselves to tapping their toes to the music of the David Basse Orchestra.

Marcene Grimes, TJW Inc. executive director, said patrons should wear their dancing shoes as “portable dance floors will be provided at this concert since Basse’s music is so danceable.”

“For those who don’t have partners, solo dancing a la Ellen DeGeneres will be encouraged,” Grimes said.

The orchestra will perform from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Regency Ballroom of the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th. Admission is by a season membership, but they are available at the door for the reduced price of $80 for an adult or $40 for a student 20 or younger.

The season ticket will be good for Sunday’s concert, as well as one Feb. 10 featuring trombonist Wycliffe Jordan; a March 17 show showcasing pianist Paul Smith, saxophonist Mike White and vocalist Kathleen Holeman; and the season closer April 28 with young guitar sensation Graham Dechter with Jeff Hamilton on drums, Tamir Hendelman on bass and Konrad Paszudski on piano.

Basse not only sings jazz but he also uses his speaking voice to promote it. As a performer, he has been a fixture on the regional jazz scene for three decades, performing with the likes of Jay McShann, Billy Taylor, Phil Woods, Les McCann, Giacomo Gates and Mike Melvoin.

Read more: http://cjonline.com/news/2013-01-03/dancing-shoes-recommended-jazz-concert