On Monday, February 13, 2023, Guido Basso, a legendary figure in Canada’s jazz scene for many years, passed away. He was 85. It is not disclosed what caused the death.
The family might reveal the funeral plans later. Everyone is mourning and remembering Guido Basso, expressing their sorrow and paying respect to him on social media.
“Guido Basso, rip. Memoirs covering 60 years with guidance. I’m at a loss for how to count them. How many sessions did we have together? Although it’s simple to remember the amazing guy and the lovely tones of his instrument, there are thousands of recordings, jingles, and TV episodes, too many to count. Peace out, dear friend. One of the best is you.”
Basso, born in 1937 in Montreal, started playing the trumpet when he was nine. He attended the Conservatoire de music du Québec in Montreal, and while still in his teens, he performed in dance and showed bands with people like Al Nichols, Maury Kaye, and others under the stage name “Stubby” Basso.
In the late 1950s, Basso began performing with singer Pearl Bailey and the band she and her husband, drummer Louis Bellson, led throughout North America after singer Vic Damone saw his skill and hired him on the road.
For over 65 years spanning eight decades, Basso was a champion of big band music, conducting jazz orchestras for live performances and TV and radio shows.
Basso played trumpet and flugelhorn and was a founding member of Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass for over 20 years. In addition to leading big band concerts in Toronto with giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, he served as the musical director for many CBC programs.
He advocated that one should “attack the trumpet and makes love to a flugelhorn.” He was renowned for his rapid, piercing bebop trumpeting and the lyricism of his flugelhorn performance on jazz ballads.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
