Al
Basile Is At Home Next Door on
New 2-CD Set of 1960s-Style Memphis Soul/Blues, Plus a Retrospective
Compilation Disc Coming October 16 from Sweetspot
Records
RUMFORD, RI – Singer/songwriter/cornetist Al Basile
announces the October 16 release of At Home Next Door,
a special two-CD set from the former member of the legendary Roomful of Blues
that includes both an album of all-new songs done in a ‘60s Memphis style, as
well as a 14-track retrospective of his earlier works on his own Sweetspot
Records label. This is the ninth Duke Robillard-produced album from two-time
Blues Music Award nominee Al Basile, and distribution for the new double set is
by City Hall Records. The new release also comes during a watershed year for
him, with the recent publication of a career retrospective book of poetry,
A Lit
House.
Disc one,
titled At
Home, includes 13 re-mastered blues songs from Al's Sweetspot
catalogue (1998-2010) featuring Duke Robillard and the cream of New England blues talent, plus a new acoustic blues song
with Al singing live to Duke's solo guitar
accompaniment.
Disc two,
titled Next
Door, is comprised of 13 all-new original songs from the pen of
Basile, whose style showcases both his poet’s talent as a wordsmith, as well as
his film noir flair for storytelling. The new tracks display a 60s Memphis
R&B flavor, with accompaniment from Duke Robillard, the Duke Robillard Band
(Mark Teixeira – drums, Brad Hallen – bass), Roomful of Blues alumni horns (Doug
James – baritone/tenor sax, Rich Lataille – alto/tenor sax, Carl Querfurth –
trombone) and special guest Scott Hamilton on tenor
sax.
“Great
songwriting is in short supply, and, dare we say it, especially in the blues.
You'll find no recycled mediocrity in the work of Al Basile,” wrote Michael Cote
in Blues
Revue. “Perfect for those who expect a little intelligence in
their music, thanks to his reputation as a published poet,” said the Jazz & Blues
Report. “If you want to hear swinging blues, this is the place,”
reported Steve Jones in Crossroads Blues
Society.
Al Basile has had a prolific career as a
singer/songwriter/cornetist in blues and jazz circles; as a
poet/playwright/fiction writer; and until a few years ago, as a teacher/coach at
an independent school in his native Rhode Island. Al has focused more on reaching
the public since leaving teaching, and his last four CDs placed in the top 15 on
the Living
Blues airplay charts in the months of their release. He has been
nominated for two Blues Music Awards as best horn player in 2010 and
2012.
Al's reviews consistently comment on his strengths as a
writer. He uses his lyrics to tell stories with universal appeal, bringing to
the task his skills as a published poet but keeping the words strong, simple,
and evocative. His ease and strength as a vocal storyteller continues to grow
with each release, and his cornet playing is rich, nuanced, and succinct,
informed by jazz but instantly communicative as an alternate voice. His songs
are all lyrically and melodically deep, and the characters and situations are
like compressed theater.
While Al kept his various artistic talents alive and
growing throughout his 25 year teaching career, he has moved into the public eye
quickly since leaving that profession. He's a model for his generation in
showing how to have sequential careers, remain independent, and produce work
that is both accessible and thought-provoking. His music sounds good – you can
put it on while making dinner – but if you have time fore a careful listen – the
deeper you look, the more you'll find.
“Blues – is it a form or a feeling? People who like to
talk 8-12-16 bars and 1-4-5 chords will find plenty of blues on the first disc
in this collection,” says Al Basile in the liner notes. “These songs of mine are
drawn from my Sweetspot catalogue going back to 1998 and they stick pretty close
to the form while covering different styles. I think they show that I’m
At Home with the
Blues.
“Those who aren’t sticklers about stylistic hybrids and
different chord changes and song forms will find lots of blues feeling on the
second disc, which is grounded in 60s Memphis soul-blues, but like most of my
song collections has a mix of blues, soul, classic R&B, swing, gospel, and
even a bow to Motown. I think these new songs show that I’m equally comfortable
in the musical territory Next Door to the
Blues.
“Personally I'm a blues-is-a-feeling guy, but you can
make up your own mind, or even have it both ways. This is all music I loved
writing, performing, and recording – I don't dye my hair, but my roots are
showing.”
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