Basia confirmed for Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival 2012

I think we all can agree that it's been long overdue for Basia to play the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival. For years, we've all heard the lineups and been shaking our heads, right?

Well SMH no more-- Basia is confirmed (that's right, I said confirmed) to finally be a part of this illustrious festival, playing the Sunday of the first weekend-- October 7, 2012. Mark it. The Avalon Ballroom, looking out to seaaaa.

Tickets are already available. Plan that stuff. Do it. You don't want to miss this. Possibly the best part, apart from the actual performance obviously, will be that Art Good will have to talk about Basia all year! If you have never heard this radio show, either on the wireless or online, you should by the end of today. (I especially like the archive albums.)

Basia on new Phil Harding collection, book

Phil Harding, who mixed not only Time and Tide and London Warsaw New York but also the first two Matt Bianco albums, has released a new compilation of his best remixes from the 1980s and that includes Basia. The "Until You Come Back to Me" Phil Harding 12" mix, probably the best of her dance mixes in this writer's opinion, is part of the collection and this will mark the first time the song has been properly available in the UK. It hasn't been out worldwide, even, since the Brave New Hope and The Best Remixes releases of the early 90s.

Harding penned a book in 2009, PWL From the Factory Floor, which has been reissued in a hugely expanded edition (from around 250 to a staggering 600 pages!). I have the 2009 edition which does mention Basia and Danny a bit and is overall a fine read. Perhaps the new edition may expand on PWL's work with Basia and MB, Phil has said that his work with Basia was among his favorites and I've always respected that!

You can find appropriate sales links and more info at pwlfromthefactoryfloor.com - both are available at Amazon UK and US as well.

Revisiting: Original "New Day for You" video

Fan Mark Derrington reminded me of this really great first version of the video to "New Day For You," filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Isn't it weird to see singers that aren't Annick and Veronique singing with her? It's hard to imagine a Basia performance without them! The video was reshot because the record company didn't like how Basia was singing to an empty hall. I guess this strange narrative (who's on the phone?!) made more sense to them if his hair didn't, even by 1988 standards. I'll just take one of each of everything Basia is wearing here. It's vintage now, right?!

Dutchmarc did a great side-by-side of these videos, too, similar to his captures of the "Promises" videos. We all know now that there was no reason for the US localizing of Time and Tide!

Basia 'celebrity DJ' on SiriusXM

Basia will be on a Celebrity DJ session on SiriusXM Watercolors tomorrow (10/20) from 2-3pm EST, playing live tracks recorded at the SXM studios last month, along with From Newport to London tracks and, knowing Basia, some really good other songs! Any time she's given a chance to 'spin' some of her own favorites they are usually really good. Anyway, tune in! They will replay it Saturday 10/22 2-3pm EST if you miss tomorrow's broadcast.

Williamsport show canceled

The last show of the tour in Pennsylvania is toast. The venue is citing "show conflicts," which sounds like they made an oops for sure. Click here for refund info.

Happy birthday Basia!

Today is Basia's birthday! Let's all wish her a great one as she does a show tonight in Sacramento.

Behind the scenes

So, how is the tour going? Let's hear it from Basia, shall we?

Extremely good interview by a blogger and fan

The blog A Polish Son did a really good interview with Basia and it's one of the more insightful ones I've seen recently. Do stop and read it and/or watch the video. Don't miss it.

Brief words with Basia on 94.7 site

Going retro a bit with this one: http://947thewave.radio.com/2011/09/23/basia-describes-sad-inspiration-behind-hit-song-cruising-for-bruising/

Small interview in Washington Examiner

A short interview with Basia in the Washington Examiner ahead of the show tonight at Birchmere.

PA tickets on sale now

Tickets on sale starting today for the last show of the tour in Williamsport, PA. Get on it!

Live album OUT NOW!

From Newport to London is here! Get your copy via download or CD at major online retailers.

Another PA show announced

This one squeaked by! Basia will be at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport PA on October 7th. Tickets on sale September 14. Read more.

Chicago SOLD OUT (again)

Chicago is back to being sold out. Thanks everyone!!

Columbus canceled

The show on September 11 at Vonns has been canceled. I imagine you should take it up with point of purchase if you are holding tickets to this event.

Hear the new single!

"From Newport to London" can be heard on YouTube! Let everyone know what you think of it in the comments, and be sure to read Basia's note on the new album.

US, Germany and Japan preorder & live album release info!

The US street date will also be September 13th-- you can view Koch's catalog page for From Newport to London here. It includes a track listing as well!

Best Buy is taking preorders. Amazon is at least going to let you know when it becomes available.

You can also preorder the album on Amazon.de The album is also popping up on most major retail sites in Japan.

Live album preordering on Amazon UK

Whoa! Amazon UK is showing the live album, entitled From Newport to London: Greatest Hits Live, with a release date of September 19 and now available for preorder. It's also listed as an import...hmm. No sign of this on US Amazon, by the way. Or on Empik, for that matter!

This will be released in the US and almost certainly in Poland, so I wouldn't panic and run and order this yet if you are in those countries.

"From Newport to London" is a studio track that will be added onto the live album.

Two shows in Austin

Basia returns to One World Theatre in Austin, TX on September 20 for two shows!

Buy tix!

Photos from Lodz

Here's a great set of photos from the recording at Lodz. (The article is mostly just recapping what has been said before about the show)

Really nice vintage show poster

Hey, anyone have an extra one of these lying around, holla at your girl. ;) There just aren't enough art-quality Basia show posters out there! (We need to get the world-famous Polish poster artists on this problem pronto.)

By the way you should Like the Basia Trzetrzelewska fan page on Facebook if you haven't already. That is where this was originally posted.

A good idea at the time

You ever say to yourself, "You know, Matt Bianco was great and all, but they would have been so much cooler if they had just performed while riding bumper cars with a bunch of random German fest-goers"?

Wish granted!

Info spilled on new recordings

According to this article in Moje Miasto the live album will be released at the end of this year and a new Basia album will be out in 2012 (though we can't help but remember that traditionally early announcements about new albums tend to be very optimistic)

For the concert in Lodz, that will be recorded for this live album, Polish singer/songwriter Mietek ("a superstar in Poland" according to his Facebook fan page) will be performing a duet in English called "Wondering" while X Factor contestant Ada Szulc will duet with Basia as well.

Speaking of Mietek, they will also sing a cover of "Save the Best for Last" on Mietek's forthcoming album. (It's worth going to YouTube to listen to Mietek, for example:

Photos from Gliwice

If you scroll down past the fireworks (!!), there are photos of the concert in Gliwice. Not the greatest but they will do!

Palm Desert on sale Aug. 8

Tickets for Basia at McCallum Theater's Fitz's Jazz Cafe go on sale August 8th.

Club Nokia tickets are on sale as well as the Portland date. Thus everyone is now accounted for!

The Poland leg of the tour starts this week incidentally!