Al Basile: “The Tinge”
Artist: Al Basile (www.albasile.com)
Album: “The Tinge” (Sweetspot Records)
The latest solo effort from Roomful of Blues cornet player Al Basile is one of those rare contemporary blues releases that takes smooth, jazz-flavored blues in the spirit of Cleanhead Vinson and Joe Williams and finds its own comfortable niche. Not only are Basile’s vocal and playing front-and-center but, as a side man, Duke Robillard’s guitar work is better than ever. At it’s best moments, the result might be described as sounding like a great Robert Cray record. The grooves simmer and cook expertly and the playing is nothing less than top-notch.
Bruce Katz alternates between piano, organ and Wurlitzer, while a horn section (Basile and saxmen Rich Lataille and Doug James) adds color and dynamics. The songs are moody, jumpy, in-the-pocket variations on old-style, big city blues (“Go Back Home to the Blues,” “Too Slow”), R&B (“Just Wait and See”), an occasional country-flavored pop tune (“Can I Trust You With a Kiss”) and what could pass for a jazz standard (“Give Me the Rainbow”) that manage to never sound trite.
— By Michael Lipton
