Matt Bianco in Holland, through the noughties.

All this via our fantastic contributor Dutchmarc:
First, a 2000 singalong type show from Holland "The sense of.." which was about 1984 and who better to represent that year than Matt Bianco. Mark Reilly makes an appearance and the whole band represents frozen in videoclip time.



A radio interview with during the 2004 Matt Bianco era with Basia, Danny, and Mark. Nice video accompaniment!

Incidentally, "Whose Side are You On" is #288 on this Jazz countdown list. And finally, the "Wrong Side of the Street (Can't Sleep remix)" which was in very limited quantities on vinyl in 2004.

Wonders abound in the BasiaWeb Collectors Flickr group

You may have seen the little linky over in the right hand menu but have you been to BasiaWeb Collectors lately? Loads of goodies from past and present, such as this gorgeous ad that is running in Jazz Forum magazine. Our usual suspects have been uploading all kinds of stuff that you should check out.

Last weekend I started uploading my big vault O' clippings to the group and have started with Matt Bianco from 1984. For a couple years I was obsessed with buying old UK music mags on Ebay and now you all can see the fruits of my madness! Just the beginning here, I also have collections from the other albums of my own, but also another fan's impressive clipping booty.

BasiaWeb Collectors

HEADS UP: there is also a BasiaWeb FanFotos group for live and meet-and-greet type photos as well!

Clips of Basia, Matt Bianco from Holland

Great clips from dutchmarc!

Basia performing "Promises" as part of an eight-hour program about the environment. (Kevin's brother Paul on guitar)


MB songs at music gala. Glorious mimey goodness. (About eight minutes long)

Alternate vintage Matt Bianco vid

I'm not sure why they need gas masks, but this tongue-in-cheek video is pretty cool.

Also, hear the b-side, "Big Rosie."

Good ol' 1984.

Matt's Mood live videos from 2004-5

We don't have a tour to see for now but maybe these clips from Polish TV can satisfy for a short while anyway.

"Half A Minute"
"Ordinary Day"

Looking for that one version of "More Than I Can Bear"?

Probably a top five Basia question is: what is with the with-Basia version of the Matt Bianco song "More Than I Can Bear" not being on CD, and where can I get it? Thankfully Andrzej noticed that it appears on Marek Niedzwiecki zaprasza do Smooth Jazz Cafe 5 (2003, Universal Music Poland). So you have to order it on import, but it does exist!

Alternately, you can stick with the cassette or LP version of Whose Side Are You On-- the CDs are the only one that contains the weird de-Basia-fied version (actually the original mix!)

A (Christmas) Gift

Just in time for the holiday's full swing is the Matt Bianco Christmas song, "The Happy Christmas Song"! We also have the demo to "Half A Minute." You might remember these from the '04-'05 official Matt Bianco site, here's the background from then:

“Half A Minute” demo (early 1983)-- right click to save
This was the first song we wrote as Matt Bianco. It was recorded on a 4 track Portastudio in a damp basement of a house I was sharing with Andy & Peter Ross (who introduced us to their dad - Ronnie). When Basia recorded her vocals it was the first time she had met Mark. She arrived as we were finishing the lyrics; she read them, learnt the melody, recorded it, tracked it and added backing vocals; all within a couple of hours.

Also playing with us for the first time was Ronnie Ross, on baritone sax. Peter Ross plays percussion and Kito Poncioni plays bass and guitar. Although it sounds rough it does have a certain charm.

The Happy Christmas Song” demo-- right click to save
In the run up to the Christmas of '83, having just signed our record deal with WEA, we presented them with this portastudio demo as a joke. It was never meant to be taken seriously and never saw the light of day - until now. Peter Ross plays drums and sleigh bells.

Many thanks to Danny for sharing these with us again!

Downloads section is back

The former Files section is now called Downloads and again contains the one extant Bronze demo, Danny solo and Danny singing in a lost Blue Rondo demo, original Time and Tide demos, the last Matt Bianco track which evolved into a Basia one, Basia singing a Ronnie Ross composition, and Danny and Andy Ross just being ridiculous.

Treasures all! So download away.

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!

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! :(

mattbianco.com goes back to its roots

Now that Matt Bianco have again split into two, our sister site (or should we say brother?), the official Matt Bianco fansite, is back and looking for contributions. It's great to see Dirk back in the game!

"More Than I Can Bear" video

Basia as a flapper. That's really all you need to motivate you to click this link, doncha think?

Approximately thirty seconds

The video for "Half A Minute" has found it's way onto YouTube (thanks to Frank Johnson for the alert). This track, later covered for Basia on Broadway, was well-received by jazz-dance club DJs at the time, though the English pop world had figured MB were just a novelty act after the runaway success of "Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed". But this video shows Matt Bianco were in on the joke, too, and winking right along. And this first look at Basia as lead vocalist would prove a glimpse of things to come.

Top of The Pops, 1984

Much to my surprise I read today that the venerable UK music show Top of the Pops is dunzo. Let us take this opportunity to remember the one time Basia, Danny and Mark were featured on it, shall we? It's about five seconds long but we do what we can. RIP TOTP.

Live on American TV, and some natty jewel thieves

Long ago a bunch of fans gathered up their videocassettes (remember those?) and their LDs and sent them to the one guy who had the equipment in an age before iDVD to dub them onto CD-ROM- and thus the Basia Video Project was born. Our esteemed site founder, Ben, then got everyone hooked up with their own copy. The fandom rejoiced.

Ten years later and during another (thankfully finite) slow period we have the endless fun that is YouTube, something that couldn't even be conceived of in those days. Even more video goodness: First, there's the second number from that Tonight Show episode, this time "Astrud." Check out who I think might be Marc Antoine on guitar, in a look he'd probably just as soon forget.

At this point I'm feeling quite spoiled, but there's also the video to "Until You Come Back To Me" (shot at Seattle's Paramount) and another fab Matt Bianco mini-movie, "Sneaking Out the Back Door," in which Basia out-hustles street thugs at cards and Danny engages in print-on-demand the old fashioned way. I really love those old Matt Bianco videos. Let all this booty tide you over until the next album update.

EDIT: Clips removed by YouTube.

Riveting dominoes match on YouTube

Well, it's actually the Matt Bianco "Get Out of Your Lazy Bed" video, from the days where there was a fourth Bianco (Kito Poncioni, on bass). I wonder what the stakes were of this game? EDIT: Removed by YouTube.

Matt Bianco, "Undercover" (original demo)

Today's song, the long-rumored last original-lineup Matt Bianco song from 1985, is going to sound familiar. And much like the original Matt Bianco, this song also split into two entities: a Basia song and a lyrical theme for a future Reilly/Fisher song. Anyway, check it out to see what I mean.

Revisit everyone's favorite Christmas ditty!

It's "The Happy Christmas Song"! Recorded by Matt Bianco for their record company in 1983, it's archived on the official MB site. Get the earworm all over again! EDIT: Since removed as the Matt Bianco site was taken down.

Remastered Best of Matt Bianco out next week in the UK

Matt Bianco's 1990 Best Of compilation will be rereleased in the UK on Tuesday September 27. It includes some of Danny and Basia's work on Whose Side Are You On as well as Mark Reilly's songs from Matt Bianco and Indigo. You can order it on Amazon now.

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!).

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.

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.

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

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.

A Chrismas Gift from Danny

As a gift to fans, two MB demos are available on the Matt Bianco website. One is the first version of "Half a Minute" — and the first meeting between Mark and Basia. For the full story click here. EDIT: site has since been taken down by Universal.