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Historical Background
Composed in 1928 by Spencer Williams, Basin Street Blues is one of the most iconic tunes associated with New Orleans jazz. The title references Basin Street, once a bustling thoroughfare in the Storyville district, the city’s historical red-light and music quarter. The song became a defining anthem of Dixieland and early swing, recorded by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and countless others. Its blend of blues phrasing, urban nostalgia, and melodic charm made it a cornerstone of traditional jazz.

About the Arrangement
In this arrangement by the Ricardo Farão Jazz Trio, Basin Street Blues receives a rich and colorful reinterpretation for classical guitar trio. The score explores a lush harmonic palette: from Maj7 and 13th chords to diminished embellishments and sus4 voicings. The guitar articulates the melody with lyrical phrasing and expressive slides, frequently using higher frets and voice leading reminiscent of early jazz horns. The bass walks with chromatic momentum, at times mirroring stride techniques with syncopated placement. The drums play a brush-based swing groove with subtle breaks and cymbal accents that recall the vintage New Orleans style.

Notably, the arrangement uses triplets, swing eights, and suspended chords (E7sus, D13, A6/C#), giving the piece its authentic push-and-pull feel. Some measures embrace diminished runs and slash chord bass inversions, keeping the flow harmonically intriguing while respecting the tune's original structure.

🌐 Discover more
Full arrangements available at https://ricardofarao.com/
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Basin Street Blues - S. Williams

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