A Bouquet of Basho: The Musical Legacy of a Legend

It is hard to underestimate the importance of a documentary when it comes to the goal of preserving the legacy of a musician. Unlike a book, a documentary tells the story of an artist in a way that is much more condensed and adds a visual and aural aspect that the written page misses.

Liam Barker's beautiful documentary, Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho (2020), was a gamechanger in many ways. Not only did it tell singer-guitarist Basho's story in a way that paid respect to both his life and music, but it also unearthed a wealth of previously unheard music. The result was an acclaimed box set, Song of the Avatars: The Lost Master tapes (Tompkins Square Records, 2021). Three years later, the adventure is not over as Barker has found enough material to release another 5CD box set in conjunction with Tompkins Square Records.

Robbie Basho
Snow Beneath the Belly of a White Swan: The Lost Live Recordings
Tompkins Square Records
2024

The focus of this poetically titled box set is on the live recordings. This is significant since it has been claimed that Robbie Basho's art is best experienced live. Now there is a chance to hear if this claim is true.

After hearing the five discs that make up this generous offering of Basho's live recordings, the impression is not so much that he is better live than on record, but rather that he was a remarkable artist both on record and live in concert. What you hear live is a person of flesh and blood and there is tuning, banter and storytelling in-between the music. This is important because with Basho you sometimes sense that he lived in the clouds. However, he was also very much a man of the earth, humorous and warm based on the experience of the concerts, and yet it is fascinating to experience the introduction of a song followed by the song itself. One moment you are down on earth and the next moment up in the sky.

Basho himself was well aware of the strong impact of his music, promising "music drawing on higher energy levels to get people high without drugs." Indeed, it must be said that he transcends the simple format of voice and guitar and delivers something that can only be described as orchestral. The music itself is drawn from many sources: Asian classical music, blues, raga, flamenco and folk music. The range of styles played across these discs is awe inspiring and still there is an organic center to it all.

The pieces vary in length, sometimes reaching epic proportions, with "California Raga" passing the 17-minute mark, but Basho's music can shine just as much on a simple folk song like "Orphan's Lament" that is both down-to-earth in its description of worldly pain and cosmic in its soaring beauty. Those who have reservations about Basho's voice should hear it.

It must be said that much of the music does not include vocal. For long stretches it is possible to hear a purely instrumental Basho singing through his strings, but when he breaks into song it makes sense. There are different kinds of poetry and some of it must be expressed in words and song. So here is the song of Basho, as beautiful as ever. The music is presented in a box with a thick booklet with photographs and a foreword by Liam Barker and an enlightening essay by Richard Dawson. There is even a small reproduction of a concert poster. Although Barker offers slight caution about the sound, there is only one recording, the beautiful closer, "Wonder Song" where a problem with the sound is evident, the rest is excellent, although of course not high fidelity.

All in all, there is reason to be grateful for this music. Except for two interpretations of pieces by fellow guitarist, John Fahey, it is all original music by Basho and some of it rare and previously unheard. This is live music that stands as a work of art.

Robbie Basho
Bouquet
Lost Lagoon Records
2024

While it is certainly true that Basho's live recordings are valuable, it is also important to remember the beauty of his albums. Fortunately, a rare treasure has been preserved in a new format thanks to Liam Barker. Bouquet was originally released by Basho on cassette in 1983 and has since become both expensive and hard to find. Now, the album is presented on CD and vinyl as well as digitally on Barker's own label, Lost Lagoon Records.

The reissue is done the way a true fan would do it: It has been remastered and comes with an extensive booklet with notes and photos, and there is even a digital bonus of four tracks available for download for free or a nominal fee at Lost Lagoon's Bandcamp site. The bonus tracks are worth hearing. "Omar Khayaam Country" and "Califia," introduced with an Ennio Morricone whistle, are songs that adhere to the high standard of the album and "Land of Our Fathers (The First Christmas of Creation)" is in a class of its own. It is an epic piece that finds Basho accompanying himself on cosmic piano while he retells the creation of the world.

"Land of Our Fathers (The First Christmas of Creation)" is certainly impressive, but preserving the original running order of the album was a good idea since it gives a more subtle poetic experience. It also ends with a piano piece, but this time without vocal. Otherwise, this is an album that more than anything is carried by Basho's quivering wide-range voice that brings Anohni, former Antony of Antony and the Johnsons to mind. If Basho can sometimes be perceived as a guitarist that also sings, Bouquet shows that his voice and guitar are inseparable. On tracks like "The Golden Medallion" and "Tears of Teresa," he is a cosmic singer/songwriter whose lyrics are pure poetry.

Love is the theme that runs through the album, but it is a love that is a deeper than the usual pop fare of boy meets girl. At times, Basho sounds almost ancient and medieval, other times he plays his own version of the blues. In reality, it is mostly just a man and a guitar, but Basho manages to create a beautiful and many-colored cosmic bouquet of flowers from very few ingredients. The album is a rare letter of love, so it is fitting that Barker's reissue also comes across as a labor of love.

Tracks and Personnel

Snow Beneath the Belly of a White Swan: The Lost Live Recordings

Tracks: Chung Mei -The Chinese Orchid; Some Summer Day; Sligo River Blues; Autumn Nocturne; In the Meadows; Snow Beneath the Belly of a White Swan; The Falconer's Arm; Himalayan Highlands; The Golden Shamrock; Bear Medicine; Charles Ives Paints North America; Portrait of Fahey as a Young Dragon; Song of God; Kowaka D'Amour; Pasha; Cathedrals et Fleur de Lis; Cantos California; Green River Suite; California Raga; Silver Curls; The Lady She is a Waiting; Chaconne Fandango; Song of the Stallion; A North American Raga (The Plumstar); Eagle Sails the Blue Diamond Waters; Kateri Tekakwitha; Orphan's Lament; A Song of Kings; Moon Milk; Wonder Song.

Personnel: Robbie Basho: guitar, vocal.

Bouquet

Tracks: The Golden Medallion; Khalil Gibran; The White Swallow; The Polish Rider; El Cid; Lightning Thunder; Land of Our Fathers (Hopi Hymn); Tears of Teresa; Blues from Lebanon; The Song of Leila; The White Princess.

Personnel: Robbie Basho: guitar, vocal, piano.

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