DAVID BASSE

THE WAR WITHIN

Bighead Productions

David Basse, drums/vocals/composer; Stuart Elster, piano; Luther Hughes, acoustic bass.

Kansas City based jazz vocalist and drummer, David Basse, made this “live” recording in North Hollywood at a club called Kulak’s Woodshed.  The trio opens with “Something Fried” a cute tune written by Mike Melvoin with a humorous lyric.

Basse sings “Everybody needs a night, and the band is out of sight … I’d like to order something fried, with mashed potatoes on the side … since the band is on a break, have another steak, this time put some gravy on top for me! …

While I’m laughing at the lyrics, one of my favorite Southern California bass players, Luther Hughes, takes a dynamic solo.  When David Basse re-enters with his vocal presentation and shuffle drums, his voice and style recall the talented singer, songwriter and pianist, Mose Allison.  Like Allison, Basse knows how to tell a story. At the same time, he uses every muscle in his body to play his trap drums.  Impressive!

For decades, Basse has been at the forefront of the Kansas City music scene.  In 1997, his band “The City Light Orchestra” performed at the Inaugural Gala for President Clinton.  Currently, he is spearheading the syndicated radio show, “Jazz with David Basse.”  Back in 2012 he released a popular album called “UpTown” featuring Phil Wood and his sometime co-writer, Mike Melvoin.

On a song he co-wrote with Bob Benish called “Sins of the Father,” Basse sings this original composition with only drum accompaniment. It almost sounds like a confessional or a page extracted from his diary.  This is followed by the Mark Winkler and Larry Steelman tune “Like Jazz.”  It’s a great song with a wonderful lyric. I first heard this song, and fell in love with it, when it was delivered by Southern California jazz singer, Cheryl Barnes. Basse ads scat-singing to his talents when he trades fours with himself on drums.

“Katrina” is clearly a tribute to Louisiana and its historic jazz scene.  From the first beat of the Basse drums, the pluck of the Hughes bass, and the shuffle blues chords of Stuart Elster’s piano, I recognize the music of New Orleans. Basse takes an extended drum solo during this arrangement.

As a composer, Basse offers us five original songs on this album that he has either penned or co-written with a partner.  One of the songs is called “By My Baby’s Side.” As always, Stuart Elster shines during his bluesy piano solo. The album closes with this slow blues shuffle arrangement and unique lyric.  He sings:

“My baby don’t make coffee.  My baby don’t make bread.  My baby she stays out late and she’s a stranger to my bed. … My baby’s fast as lightening, for talking on the phone. The cats say that woman is frightening, while I sit home alone. … my happiness is forbidden, by my baby’s side.”

As usual, David Basse sells the song and tells his story with authority, sincerity and humor. Sometimes he forgets a word or two, but shrugs it off, the way he would if we were sitting at his kitchen table listening to his truth with undivided attention.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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