Search - Robbie Basho :: Bashovia

Music of substance: the story of a soul

Richard S. Osborn | Saratoga, CA USA | 12/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Must admit from the outset that I studied and performed with Basho in the late 60's, early 70's. Still, he is the hidden progenitor of the fusion of world music with the spiritual for all today. He studied with the matchless sarod master Ali Akbar Khan. This album has some of his greatest compositions, but shows some flaws also. Robbie was an intuitive: always put vision first & technique a far second ("Guitar Soli" has several of his greatest early compositions, but also some downright funky messes from the first recordings). "Pavan" is among his most raga-like; "Pasha" is most santur-like. At the risk of sounding New Agey (Robbie was a true wayfarer, not interested in channeling entities or sweet substitutes) I hope you might approach his music with the expectation of meeting a person of deep heart and pure intention, trying to see the highest peak man can aspire to, and let his wings help you up a ways...."

Let Bashovia Wash Ovia

C. Rocklein | 11/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music defies description. How do you explain a peyote trip, for example? From the liner notes inside by John Fahey himself "The mood is neither Oriental nor Occidental, male nor female, human nor alien, young nor old, live nor dead, traditional nor contemporary, hip nor unhip, yin nor yang, apples nor oranges, plus nor minus, electric nor accoustic..". Bashovia is unadulterated bliss. I haven't heard anything like it before."