Live video from a 2005 show

Bev Okin-Larkin shot these short but sweet gems live in San Antonio when Matt Bianco stopped there in 2005. New Day for You, Half A Minute. So cool, thanks Bev!

Everything Must Go!

The last of the Matt Bianco '04-'05 merchandise is on markdown. Get the hookup while it lasts!

Matt Bianco clips

Here's Matt Bianco on Top of the Pops. Here's Matt Bianco miming with gusto on a European show. And here's Matt Bianco's electronic press kit from 2004. Consider your world rocked. Thanks to Bev for finding these gems.

EDIT: OK, I am just GUTTED that one is gone! :(

Matt's Mood in Jazziz June issue

Matt's Mood is in Jazziz magazine's June issue, as part of Jonathan Widran's Contempo column. Frequent flyers to BasiaWeb will recognize the quotes in the write-up from previous material, but it's good to see the album in print media. You can also read the column here.

Ey caramba! "La Luna" released in the US

This completely made our day: "La Luna" is being added to US smooth jazz radio this week, sure to wake up the endless-cover-song stupor with a cha-cha attack. It's a huge favorite of ours from Matt's Mood, with Basia on lead vocal. Radio&Records is already on it. Oooweeeoooweeeoo!

Interview with Mark Reilly about Matt's Mood

We missed this interview, which was reproduced on several jazz websites. It's an interesting look at some aspects of Matt's Mood from Mark's perspective.

"La Luna" will be the next US single

Unless something happens between now and the day the single will be released, it looks like the next Matt's Mood single will be "La Luna", and that's exactly what we were hoping for (and a lot of you have too, as our inbox attests!).

The tour is over but we aren't done yet

The fans did a fantastic job supporting Basia, Danny and Mark on their first US tour as Matt Bianco. We're sad to se it end, but you can reminisce or live vicariously through our gig reports, and keep coming back for more as they are added. Be sure to send your account in if you haven't already!

Post-LA show interview with Canyon Times

A brief and cool interview with Basia in a metro LA paper. Choice quote: "'I love being here in America,' Basia said. 'Without question, our fan base in this country is more solid than we even realized. We feel that we are on safe ground with a host of faithful followers.'" EDIT: Article has been taken down, though I probably have a copy to put up sometime soon.

An interesting profile on Basia in the King County Journal

Another critical piece through the eyes of a probable fan, though we sort of wince at the bit about music played in public spaces. But Claude Flowers hits the nail on the head with, "She's at the height of her powers...She, White and Reilly perform with an infectious enthusiasm. It's a spark they need to protect and nurture. There's a lyric in the Matt Bianco song 'Golden Days' which insists, 'Like a phoenix you'll rise/ with hope in your eyes.' That sentiment sums up the band's position pretty nicely. A bright future is theirs if they want it."

Awesome Arizona Republic review of the Phoenix show

All is definitely Coolsville with AR's Randy Cordova. Be sure to check out the photo slideshow.

Interview with Basia in the Arizona Republic

Another super groovy interview, and the answers are: No, we didn't know until now; no, no one was ever fed up; and yes of course we do, silly! What are we talking about? Get thee to the site!

Basia interviewed in San Antonio Express

Basia was interviewed as they approach the Empire Theatre show next week. Notable: "'It's so much fun to be on this tour,' said Basia from her New York hotel room. 'The best thing is that people have been so affectionate toward us. It's amazing that they have not forgotten us.'"

Washington Post Birchmere concert review

The Birchmere show was a big hit with Mike Joyce from the Washington Post.

For the audio geeks: "an arsenal of sonic weapons"

The sound engineer on the Matt Bianco tour talked to ProSound News about the mike setup for the shows. I'll just nod and smile along, being a mere layperson.

Something to dream about this spring

Wow, it's Basia on Smooth Jazz Vibes again! While a combo of previous stuff in Smooth Jazz News and Smooth Jazz Vibes, there is one big notable exception in this interview: "'In a perfect world,' Basia says, 'I'd be happy to make another CD with Matt Bianco. At the same time, I'm writing songs that do not suit the band. In an ideal world, I'd make two records: one of my own and one with Matt Bianco.'" Whoa! We'd like one perfect world, please, sent to London gift-wrapped!

More love for Matt's Mood

Although the reviewer seems to be concerned about Mark's well-being, the Washington Post give Matt's Mood thumbs up.

Jazz Times has also reviewed Matt's Mood in their May 2005 issue.

Cleveland interview with Mark

Lots of last-minute phone calls must have went down from Mark Reilly's place in London right before they left for the US! Another mini-interview!

"Ordinary Day" featured on Jazziz disc this month

If you look for the May issue of Jazziz you will find "Ordinary Day" on the disc with the issue.

Matt Bianco's Mark Reilly interviewed in Washington Times

As the Birchmere show approaches, we have an interview with Mark done by the Washington Times. He sheds some light on future Matt Bianco/Basia albums: "'It's kind of up in the air,' Mr. Reilly says. 'We've started working on some new ideas. I think a lot of that rests of the success of the album. I think we'd all love to make another album if this one has any amount of success.'"

Matt Bianco and Basia are the cover story in SJN

The Smooth Jazz News website has their cover story on Basia and Matt Bianco. It's very well written and not only explains the new order to old fans but also puts their return in the proper context for those for who missed Basia the first time around.

Basia and Mark interview with Chicago Sun-Times

Another enlightening interview done with Basia and Mark, before their sold-out show at Park West. EDIT: It's been taken down, but I probably have a copy archived to put up later.

Here's a small blurb in the Skyway News.

Matt Bianco schwag for you and your coffee

Act like you've already seen the show, even if you haven't: official Matt Bianco tour merch. The shirts are all nice and grown-up and with no giant screaming-mimi photos on the front—phew! You can also get a coffee mug (why not) and the poster program.

Out's review of Matt's Mood

Out magazine has reviewed Matt's Mood.

Basia on Jazz Trax

Jazz Trax's telephone interview with Basia was very sweet, be sure to listen for yourself. Another band revelation was let out of the bag: Veronique and Annick are back! Yay!

EDIT: shows from '05 have since been removed from the Jazz Trax site.

Basia explains the visa snafu on Smooth Jazz Vibes

Basia talked to Bryan Soergel and explained that their papers were not yet in order, causing the cancellation of the March dates. "'We're sorry to the fans who missed our first four shows,' she says. 'It's a sign of the times, and none of us had been through this recently." Read more.

O'2L to open for Matt Bianco from April 5-16

For the first group of shows, the opening act will be O'2L. We love this group, like MB they have a really cool, barely classifiable sound and yes, they do have a song that recalls the Star Wars Cantina band. That's just how fun they are. And they have the classically-trained sauce, not to mention a former Megadeth member. We can't make this up. Check out their site to understand what we are talking about.

NEW SECTION: Gig reports from around the world!

Just in time for the London show this week, we've got a new section of the site ready to go. We hope that many of you out there who go to the upcoming shows will send in your account. Or why not remember a great show of the past? In any case, check here for more info.

Basia will be in the Jazz Trax studio this weekend

Basia will visit Jazz Trax as their special guest this weekend, formally rolling out Matt's Mood. The affiliate stations and times are listed on their site, and if you don't have Jazz Trax in your area, have no fear: they archive all the past shows on Windows Media Player. This appearance promises to be good, so be sure to check it out.

"Ordinary Day" song of the week

Everybody's favorite smooth jazz blog (and yes, such things exist), Smooth Jazz Vibes, has their columnist Brian Soergel picking "Ordinary Day" as the song of the week.

Westbury on, Mountain Stage off, Puerto Rico added

The show at the Westbury Music Fair in Westbury NY, cancelled due to the visa snafu, is back on: Friday April 15, 8:00pm. All tickets for the March show will be honored for this event, and tickets are now available for all!

The Mountain Stage show in West Virginia is now cancelled.

And the group will be travelling to Puerto Rico for a concert in San Juan! The date is April 23, and it will be at the Arena.

Matt's Mood reviewed in Billboard

We like the way they think. EDIT: since removed by Billboard.

Matt's Mood press a-go-go

Some news blurbs and reviews of Matt's Mood:
Jazz Times
Smooth Jazz Vibes
Billboard

Shows cancelled due to visa snafu

Bureaucracy strikes again. The group explains more on their site, they're incredibly bummed too. Fear not, though, the other shows will go on as this issue should be sorted soon. Check your ticket vendor for return policy, usually they are refundable at the point of purchase.

Matt Bianco on Sirius

A reason to switch to satellite radio really really soon: Basia and the boys will be doing an in-studio performance on the Sirius station Jazz Cafe. It will be Saturday, April 23 at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PST).

US cover art

We were sitting on this for a while to see if more-finalized artwork would be coming up, but so far it looks like some version of this cover will be used for the US release of Matt's Mood. We are looking forward to holding it in our mitts soon.

And so it begins...

This week marks the initial adds of Matt's Mood to radio playlists through the US. "Ordinary Day" again will be the single. Here's hoping for spins and spins to go.

"Wrong Side" pinged for remixing

mattbianco.com has a pretty spiffy remix of "Wrong Side of the Street" in its Audio/Video section. Since we literally can't sleep, we're really feeling it. It's pretty spacey with a bit of drum 'n bass action and some Atari 2600 vibes as well. Incidentally, the official site is linking to us now. Brilliant! EDIT: site has since been taken down by Universal.

Matt Bianco ring in the New Year on Polish TV

Matt Bianco and Basia performed in her native Poland for the TVP network's New Years' show. Some photos here.