Robbie Basho's Five Greatest Albums

Five of the best albums from the father of the 12 string guitar

Jun 23, 2009

Robbie Basho was one of the great leading virtuoso guitarists of the Takoma School and created some of the most meditative albums of the sixties

Robbie Basho was one of the three great guitar virtuosos of the school of American Primitive guitar and, criminally, perhaps the least well remembered. Lead by the great John Fahey and his Takoma record label, the American Primitive guitarists of the late sixties sought to challenge preconceptions of the acoustic guitar as a solo instrument and instrumental guitar music in general.

Like his label mates on Takoma, Basho aimed to expand the sonic possibilities of the acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars. He experimented with dissonance and altered tunings to create haunting yet intensely beautiful music.

He dealt in themes of religion and spirituality, drawing from many cultures from India to Native American, painting his canvas in much darker hues than either Fahey or Kottke ever dared. As a result he commanded a much smaller and more specialised audience than either of them, and therefore was criminally overlooked in his life time.

Though his music may be difficult to digest, requiring more effort on behalf of the listener as usual, the rewards are endless. Here are five of his greatest works.

The Grail and the Lotus; Takoma 1966

The second of Basho’s brilliant early albums, the influence of Ali Ahkbar Khan is prevalent throughout this record. Here Basho channels his diverse playing technique and knowledge of Indian modes to create something beatific. The title track is a glorious extended raga, at once beautiful and terrifying.

Venus in Cancer; Takoma 1969

An essential album for all fans of guitar music, Venus in Cancer, finds Basho firing on all cylinders. This album appears as possibly his most rounded, with gorgeous austere liturgical 12 string workouts “Cathedrals et Fleur De Lis” sitting comfortably next to long beautiful medieval ballads “Song for the Queen”. Robbie’s voice is at its most breathtaking on the later cut, full of weight and sorrow shrouded in orchestral horns and strings.

Zarthus; Vanguard 1974

In Basho’s own words on the record sleeve: Zarthus is “an album of Persian, Arabic, Westerns Themes, woven together into a single 'Fabric D'Amour' to cover the barren manikin of modern times." Album highlights include the 19 min “Rhapsody in Dhuz”, part love song part experimentation in 'microtonality'. The title track and "Khoda é Gul é Abe" are two wonderful 12 string pieces, indulging Basho’s great love of Arabic music.

Visions of the Country; Windham Hill 1979

A later effort, this time for Will Ackerman’s Windham Hill Record label, though still contains some fine Basho material. There’s the Leo Kottke inspired “Variations on Easter” and the jaw dropping “Blue Crystal Fire” quite possibly the greatest love song Basho ever wrote.

Last year Bo’Weavil released this previously unheard concert performance Basho gave in Germany in 1980. Most of the tracks from the performance are culled from his later Windham Hill records, with a few early experimental gems.

It’s incredible to hear this performer in this setting, playing spirited trance-inducing solo guitar pieces and coming back down to earth to introduce the next song. A truly riveting performance from a truly incredible artist.

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