B’s Time
Sweetspot, 2023
8/10
The esteemed singer-songwriter and cornetist Al Basile celebrates 25 years of music with these remixed and remastered tracks that illuminate his catalog of roots sounds.
‘You Showed Me Something” begins the listen with Mark Teixeira’s crisp drums and Doug James’ animated sax alongside Basil’s soulful pipes, an “I Really Miss You” follows with Marty Ballou’s lively bass and Dave Limina’s bright keys adding much energy to the rich delivery.
Further along, “Drive Me Darling” uses John Packer’s skilled bass for the raw climate, while “Don’t Wait Too Long” is very much focused on the expressive singing amid Bob Zuck’s intimate guitar.
Close to the end, “Sleeping Beauty” is quite dreamy thanks to Jeff McAllister’s gentle drums and Tom West’s graceful keys, and “1.843 Million” exits with plenty of dance floor friendly rhythm via Brad Hallen’s adventurous bass and Bruce Bears’ dancing keys, and the cornet solo is nothing to spit at, either.
The songs here span from 1998-2019, and illustrate Basile’s diverse and adventurous approach to songwriting, where his distinct storytelling and blues and jazz vision makes for an exceptional ‘Best Of’ listen.
Travels well with: Jason Ricci And The Bad Kind- Behind The Veil; Johnny Rawls- Walking Heart Attack