JamesBassi.com
NEWS
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Need great vocal or instrumental accompaniment tracks? You’ve come to the right place! Contact me for all your repertoire needs. I accompany top people in our industry, from Opera and Concert to Broadway and Cabaret.
Inquire via email or text at (718) 662-6526.
SUNDAY MARCH 10, 2024
Recent commissions and premieres:
November 9, 2023- Protect
“Protect” (choral work) —commissioned by Voices of Ascension.
premiere performance video
“O Quam Suavis” (choral work) — commissioned and premiered by Corpus Christi Church, NYC. Premiere performance: June 6, 2021.
“Salve Regina” (solo voice and organ) — commissioned by Tom Baker. Premiered Summer 2021 at Corpus Christi Church, NYC.
New arrangement of Jerome Kern’s “Can’t Help Singing” for Voices of Ascension.
Two performances: Streaming performance at DiMenna Center, NYC, was on June 10, 2021; live performance at Untermayer Gardens, June 19, 2021.
Piano Compositions
written during the pandemic:
12 Preludes (more to follow)
Ballade
Lullaby for Camille
Thanksgiving, 2020
Music Direction Project
Music Director and Pianist for “Nunsense,” directed by Will Pomerantz, and produced by CAP 21 at Molloy College. A completely virtual, online production, created with Heredia Vision, and streamed online in May 2021.
Live Performances as collaborative pianist:
May 26, 2021:
Pianist in private concert event for Voices of Ascension: Classical vocal recital with Sarah Chalfy, soprano; Helen Karloski, mezzo-soprano; Paul D’Arcy, tenor; Enrico Lagasca, bass-baritone.
June 12, 2021:
Pianist for Summer Choral Festival Concert with St. George’s Choral Society, directed by Matthew Lewis. Works of Debussy, Dvořák, and Chavez.
Live-streamed Composer Showcase
Pre-pandemic 2020
Spring 2020: NYC reading of my new musical "The Red Carpet" in partnership with AEA.
February 6-8
Cabaret performances with Tovah Feldshuh at 54 Below.
1/29-2/3 Rehearsal pianist for Mozart's "Great Mass in C minor" with New York Philharmonic, Jaap von Sweden, music director, and Concert Chorale of New York.
January 8-12
A sold-out run of cabaret performances with Tovah Feldshuh in
Boca Raton (Mizner Park Cultural Center) and Delray Beach (Delray Beach Playhouse).
2019
December 16 &17, 2019 marked the World Premiere performances of his "Carol Suite" for Choir and Organ, his fourth (!) commissioned work for Voices of Ascension.
In the Fall of 2019 Mr. Bassi joined the adjunct faculty at Temple University, teaching music theatre composition. His residency included the first workshop and reading of his new musical
"The Red Carpet" in development with his collaborator Stephen Lance.
On September 20 and 21, 2019, Mr. Bassi manned
the piano at Feinstein’s at the Nikko in San Francisco for two sold-out performances of “Tovah is Leona!” starring his frequent cabaret partner, Tovah Feldshuh.
December of 2019, performances of his
“Carol Symphony” were featured on the holiday concerts at St. Ignatius Loyola in NYC. Stay tuned for details.
"The Village to the Vatican"
In October of 2020, NYU’s Casa Italiana produced and presented a performance / interview event entitled: “James Bassi: The Village to the Vatican.” This was streamed live online, and featured live performances of my classical and music theatre works, as well as video presentations and a guest appearance by Dennis Keene. Host: Gina Crusco
A composer of consequence, Mr. Bassi's compositions are available from Oxford University Press.
A review of his work as music director and composer for the Music before 1800 series
is here: REVIEW of Bassi’s Motet: Ave Verum Corpus
James Bassi's Broadway World profile