Basia

Release of Butterflies represents freedom to record what she wants

By Ken Capobianco

Music fans can expect many things from international jazz-pop singer-songwriter Basia— powerful, expressive vocals, elegantly engaging songs, compelling live shows and deep musicality. Just don’t expect her to make albums at the rate of most musicians who tread on the pop music industry hamster wheel and churn them out like Big Macs.

The vocalist’s newest album, Butterflies, is her first record of original music in nine years and only her third album of originals over the last quarter century. “I guess you could say I’m not the most prolific when it comes to putting out albums,” the talkative, good-natured musician born Barbara Trzetrzelewska said via phone recently. “We put out From Newport to London, which was a live album with three new songs, a few years ago [2011] after my last studio record. So yes, it’s been awhile, but I never stopped writing. I’ve toured also. I guess the truth is, some musicians work very quickly and put out a lot of albums. I’m just not one of them,” laughed the renowned vocalist, who has worked with her longtime musical collaborator, Danny White (the brother of smooth jazz superstar Peter White), for more than 30 years. “I just am slow about making music. I’ll admit that. I like to take my time, and that can be very frustrating for Danny, who likes to work at a faster tempo. Making music is very important to me, and I want to create songs that everyone can relate to. For me, that takes time. “Of course, I also want to spend time with my family. Having quality time with them and friends is quite important, also. It’s about living a full life, so that’s a priority for me. I do write a lot of songs, and, for an album, I choose 10 I’m happy with.” The London-based singer took a breath and considered her words. “It’s always more important to have quality than quantity, isn’t it? At least that’s what I think. If I’m happy with what I put out, to me, that’s what’s important.”

Butterflies finds Basia in excellent form, as it’s one of her most eclectic and versatile records, combining the Latin-tinged jazz-pop distinctive to her sound with big band, acoustic jazz, sultry dance,

romantic pop, and an Asian-influenced ballad. Of course, the focus just let us be and do what we wanted. We had a track record, so they remains on Basia’s rich vocals that elevate the songs to heights few trusted us, but there were other pressures. It’s a difficult industry. singers can achieve. “And now, I just don’t care about any of that. Now that I think “I’ve always tried to be eclectic, even though record companies about it, I feel like a butterfly. Butterflies are free and unaffected. and radio has had a tough time classifying the music and figuring What I feel now is a grown-up freedom to do what I want and be out how to sell it. Years ago, they used to worry about what who I want to be. I don’t worry about what people say.” shelf to put my albums on in the record stores. I don’t think She thought momentarily and added, “I’m so happy that the they have to worry about that anymore,” she said with a laugh. new album was so warmly received. I am speaking in my own “I really never made music by worrying about being too diverse voice, and people are responding to the music. That’s what or maybe confusing to people who have to market it. I just make matters—the music.” the kind of music I like and whatever I feel. I listen to a lot of pop Basia maintained that getting sucked into the pop-star-makingmusic, and I’m always fascinated by the different styles I hear. I love machine can be a dangerous thing, and she admires artists who have jazz, classical, soul and so many different styles, so, of course, my kept their distance from the industry while achieving great success. songs are going to reflect different tastes and approaches. “You can get caught up in that fear of failure and not being “It’s a little different now also because I have less pressure from liked, so it’s best to stay away from the rubbish of glitz and glamour. outside forces. I’m pretty free to do what I want and that makes for I always appreciated a great musician like Mark Knopfler, who a wonderful creative freedom we didn’t always have.” always had a low profile and made the music he wanted to make. Basia is in a very different place than she was in the 1980s and It’s important to do what you feel and what makes you most 1990s, when she was a pop superstar in high demand around comfortable. That doesn’t only apply to music, but to everything.” the world thanks to her best-selling records like Time Her music’s foundation is based on her collaboration and Tide (1987); London Warsaw New York (1989), with Danny White. They met in the ’80s jazz-pop band which yielded the hit Matt Bianco, which also single “Cruising For featured Mark Reilly, a Bruising;” and The Sweetest Illusion (1994), “I really never made collaborator on Butterflies. “Danny and I have been an album that turned her into a dance floor music by worrying about being collaborating for so many years—it feels natural. It’s sensation thanks to the fizzy “Drunk on Love.” too diverse or maybe confusing always been easy,” she said. “He’s half English and half After a Broadway run of shows that to people who have to market French, and I’m Polish, so we come from very different culminated in the album Basia on it. I just make the kind of music backgrounds, but our musical tastes were very similar. We both Broadway in 1995 (she I like and whatever I feel.” loved Quincy Jones and soul beat Bruce Springsteen music and immediately found to the trick by over two common ground. It was always decades), the singer stepped away from the easy to work together. On music recording industry to reclaim her life and deal things, we understand each other with personal matters. without words, and that’s so rare. She didn’t return to recording until 2009. She said “He’s a perfectionist and so am I, but in different ways. her time outside the music industry gave her a different We know what we want, and together, we’re able to achieve it. perspective on life and music, which is now reflected It’s a very beautiful thing.” in Butterflies. She added that her long break from recording sent them in “That time I spent and all my downtime over the years was freeing. different directions, but they were bound to work together once she I could step back with no pressure to make a new record and then decided to get back into the studio. observe myself from a distance. “When I had breaks, he tried to wait for someone else or work “I was able to get a better grasp of my private life, and I realized with others, but didn’t find that musical common ground, and I could do whatever I wanted instead of what was expected of me. when I returned, he came back. It was like we never missed any time That’s a big difference,” she emphasized. “I was lucky. I never received together. Things just fell into place.” pressure from the record company when I was selling records. They continued on page 22

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Basia is touring the United States and is scheduled to make a very rare appearance when she brings her band to the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival in October. “I have never played many jazz festivals, so I am looking forward to it. Over the years, I’ve played maybe four or five festivals. I’ve played in Jakarta in Indonesia, Cape Town, South Africa, and, of course, in Poland, but I’m usually just playing shows on my tour. “I like festivals because there are different acts—some I’m unfamiliar with—and I enjoy listening to everyone. I learn a lot while enjoying the sets. There’s usually a special energy. We rehearse a lot for the shows and are quite meticulous about them. As I said, Danny is a perfectionist, and we want to give the audience the best show possible.” The singer-songwriter said she loves the diversity of audiences at jazz festivals, as it demonstrates the unifying power of music. “The music glues people together and brings joy to their lives. In Poland, a lot of my friends will come out, and some of them have totally different views—the country is very divided now—and everyone forgets about their differences and comes together. That’s what is so powerful about music.” While she is an international superstar with fans in countries around the globe, Basia is still surprised at the reaction her music gets at shows in places where she hasn’t played before. “When I was in Cape Town, I was in shock. Once we started playing, everyone began singing along immediately,” she said, laughing. “I had no idea. That happens sometimes, and it’s so fulfilling. You get a perspective on things and how your music impacts lives. You can see how much the songs mean to everyone.” Now that she’s on tour, Basia isn’t looking ahead, but she is hopeful that she won’t keep her fans waiting another nine years until her next record. “That’s not the plan, but you never know,” she said slyly. “I honestly don’t think so. We wrote a lot of songs for this record, so there are a few of them we have done. I’m so encouraged by the reaction to Butterflies, so I’m feeling positive about it. “Making a record is a process, though, so it might take a bit of time.” She paused for a few moments, and added cheerfully, “I can’t promise anything, but let’s stay optimistic.” For more information on Basia, visit www.basiasongs.com.

ON TOUR

Oct. 20

32nd Annual Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Catalina Casino Ballroom Avalon, California www.jazztrax.com 866-872-9849