Basia Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
It's been 15 years since Basia Trzetrzelewska and her partner and collaborator Danny White issued the criminally under-heralded The Sweetest Illusion, her final album for Epic. Since that time, she's popped up on a few instrumental mix albums and as a guest vocalist on Matt Bianco's Matt's Mood, but other than compilations, this wonderfully inventive singer and songwriter of adult contemporary music disappeared from the scene. It's That Girl Again showcases the Polish songstress in a variety of settings over 13 new tracks. A host of crack session players join her core band, including White -- her co-writer on most tunes -- Mark Reilly, guitarist Peter White, and a chorus made up of Basia's family and friends. The set opens with "If Not Now Then When," a clever reintroduction to Basia's sound with a slew of new ideas including the use of bossa nova rhythms. Guitars and acoustic keyboards permeate the mix rather than some of the more synthetic '80s and '90s sounds of her earlier records. The lyrics are the same, positive, emotive tomes about honesty, fulfillment, intimacy, and determination she has always employed. "A Gift" is a surprisingly candid tune, about taking another's love for granted and becoming aware of the error before it's too late. The languid acoustic and electric guitars, the gently skittering loops and hand percussion all flavor a lyric of uncommon candor. "Everybody's on the Move" is true, big dancefloor modern funk that is ripe for dozens of remixes. In essence, while on some level hers is a sound close to the one that garnered her platinum album sales in decades past, there is plenty that is new here, including much more sophisticated rhythms, a more adventurous use of Latin, jazz, and Brazilian (particularly the latter) styles as they meld seamlessly with her brand of Eastern European pop, and a more poetic and focused way of writing lyrics, all wrapped up in that gorgeous voice of hers and in White's arrangements. This is as welcome a comeback record as any we've heard in recent years. In fact, It's That Girl Again goes so far as to make us remember just how much we missed her in the first place. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Simple Pleasures'
Release Date 10/6/2003
Tracks 10
Label Sony Special Products
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What The Critics Say
Polish-born vocalist Basia Trzetrzelewska has achieved considerable success since emerging in 1987 with the platinum selling album Time and Tide. Basia recorded two more successful albums of light jazz-pop (London Warsaw New York, The Sweetest Illusion) before releasing the live album Basia on Broadway in 1995. Recorded over two nights at the Neil Simon Theatre in November, 1994, Basia on Broadway is not only a wildly entertaining record of the artist's energetic live presence, but also a solid overview of her best-known work. Basia, much like Sade and Swing Out Sister, specializes in an engaging mix of jazz and pop. Before embarking on a solo career, Basia had a brief stint in the band Matt Bianco with musician Danny White. White has been Basia's "silent partner" ever since, co-writing and producing her material as well as playing keyboards. The two receive fine support on this album by jazz guitarist Peter White (Danny's brother), drummer Richard Bailey and Chris De Margary, who contributes stellar saxophone work to "From Now On." Basia herself is in fine voice throughout, on both the up-tempo material (the hit "Cruising for Bruising" and the Latin-tinged "Third Time Lucky" are especially good) and ballads such as "Time And Tide" and "Yearning." Fans of Basia's first three studio albums won't be disappointed, but may find Basia on Broadway redundant. The live renditions are quite faithful to the studio versions, and the album only contains one new track ("Dzien Sie Budzi," sung in Polish.) However, one song from Basia's Matt Bianco days, "Half a Minute," is also included. Despite the lack of new material, Basia on Broadway is a must for Basia fans, and is a nice introduction of her work to the casual listener. ~ William Cooper, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The sweet voiced Polish girl continues to set the standard by which other, less inventive adult contemporary vocalists should be measured. Her tender yet powerful feelings take listeners' hearts to places with fascinating, sometimes surreal imagery. Basia and partner/producer Danny White's real gift is rhythmic diversity, and the tandem take the artsy route on a big, brassy tour through Brazil and Latin America, employing jazzy touches that keep even the most staid tune hopping. The ballads are sweet as well. Nobody in this crowded genre outclassed or outperformed Basia, but as welcome as this comeback after four years was, the singer never followed up with another full-length studio project. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
'London Warsaw New York'
Release Date 10/23/1989
Tracks 10
Label Epic
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What The Critics Say
Basia's tantalizing Brazilian breeze and "Basia-nova" is a sheer delight to listen to. She keeps the same sweet infectiousness which made her debut Time and Tide a platinum stroke of genius. This time she's infused '60s soul and some heartfelt, sparkling ballads, like "Brave New Hope." Her voice is distinctive and lilting, her lyrics interesting, and her production frisky, employing such oddities as accordion and bass sax. Other top cuts include "Best Friends" and a rousing cover of "Until You Come Back to Me." Her disappearance from regular recordings after the mid-'90s (she made a few guest appearances on instrumental albums) was a great loss for adult contemporary music. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This 1987 mix of pop-soul has Brazilian overtones on "Astrud," a tribute to Astrud Gilberto. ~ Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide
