Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Gianni Basso was born May 24, 1931 in Asti, Italy. He started his career shortly after World War II, at first as a clarinetist, then switched to the tenor saxophone playing in Germany and Belgium with Raoul Faisant’s Big Band.

By the Fifties he became established as a commercial GB or general business player in Milan, Italy and had a steady presence at jazz events. The middle of the decade saw Gianni studying music in Turin, Italy and collaborating with trumpeter and composer Oscar Valdambrini. They created a small group combo which soon became one of the most popular jazz groups in Italy during the Fifties.

Due to their popularity Basso went on to work with a number of touring American jazz musicians, including Chet Baker, Buddy Collette, Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Phil Woods and Gerry Mulligan.

During the Seventies he founded the Saxes Machine and fronted the Gianni Basso Big Band. His senior years had him settling into the Rome, Italy studio scene while playing clubs and enjoying his historical stature.

Tenor saxophonist Gianni Basso, who was influenced by Stan Getz, transitioned on August 17, 2009.

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