Guido BassoCM (27 September 1937 – 13 February 2023) was a Canadian jazz musician who was a member of Rob McConnell's Boss Brass big band. He was a trumpeter, flugelhornist, arranger, composer, and conductor.
During his early-20s, Basso performed regularly at the El Morocco in Montreal, and played in bands led by Maury Kaye.[3] Singer Vic Damone discovered Basso playing at the El Morocco, then included him on a tour from 1957 to 1958.[1]
Career
Basso had a professional career as a composer, conductor, arranger, trumpeter, flugelhornist, and harmonica player.[1]The Canadian Encyclopedia wrote that Basso was "one of Canada's pre-eminent jazz trumpeters", and that "he was credited with the theory that one attacks the trumpet and makes love to a flugelhorn".[1]
In 1958, he joined singer Pearl Bailey and her husband, drummer Louis Bellson, touring North America with them and their orchestra.[1] Basso returned to Canada and settled in Toronto in 1961, instead of obtaining permanent residency in the United States and the likelihood of required enlistment in the United States Army. Basso then studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music during the early 1960s.[3]
In 1963, he became music director for CBLT's Nightcap, a job he held until 1967.[1] He subsequently held a number of music director positions with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), as well as being active as a performer.[4] His work at CBC included Barris and Company (1968–69), Mallets and Brass (1969) with vibraphonist Peter Appleyard, music director of After Noon (1969–1971), and leading orchestras playing big band music on 'In the Mood (1971–72) and Bandwagon (1972–73).[1]
Basso won the Juno Award for traditional jazz album of the year, Turn Out the Stars, in 2003.[2] and a second Juno Award for traditional jazz album of the year, Lost in the Stars, in 2004.[1][8]
