BASIL HENRIQUES of the U.K.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 23 Feb 2014 5:50 pm

I just want to share with you my excitement and pleasure in hearing your rendition of "Swedish rhapsody".

It was absolutely superb. I've never heard anything quite like that performance.

If on a CD, what is it and/or where might one acquire a copy and how much.

Give us a little history on his recording, please.
Thanks again for that great solo.

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 23 Feb 2014 7:32 pm

Last year Basil very generously sent me digital copies a number of his albums which are all superb. I had a garden party just yesterday and we had his music on - everyone loved it. He's awesome!

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 23 Feb 2014 10:34 pm

Got to agree with you guys, Baz is a superb player, with a knowledge of steel second to none, and a great guy always happy to supply information to anyone who asks.

Mike Fereday · Post by **Mike Fereday** » 24 Feb 2014 12:03 am

Ray

Check out Basil's web-site www.waikiki-islanders.com for details of Basil's recordings.

Swedish Rhapsody is on the album "Irish & Country". Albums can be ordered off the site.

Mike[/url]

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 24 Feb 2014 9:04 am

Thanks muchly gentlemen (and others) The PayPal on my site is somewhat defunkt momentarily, BUT you can preview all the albums and send PayPal payment to basilhenrick@me.com
The albums can be purchased as "Hard copy" for the various prices on the site, or as downloads for $5 each.
$10 for the "for my Friends" quadruple album.

On another slant, I AM delighted that that particular tune is liked, it's a smidgeon challenging but doable eventually..

Further very varied samples:-
Sleepy Lazoon

Begin the Beguine

For My Friends album

My Guitars and I Album

Irish & Country Album

Live at the Castaways Vol.1

Live at The Castaways Vol.2

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 24 Feb 2014 9:15 am

Thanks Skipper, the tune was originally on an album that I did in Ireland and the RTE Concert Orchestra were on many tracks, there's more to it than that but it's for another day. Anyway the session was over and I took a "Monitor Mix" on a cassette tape. Subsequently a studio fire destroyed the master and multitracks so the plan to release it never came to fruition.
Later years I located a good copy of the cassette that I'd sent to Ernie Tough in Aberdeen. I cleaned up the sound and released it in a limited way as Irish and Country Steel Guitar. BUT meanwhile my great friend Connie Lee asked me as a favour before he died that he wanted an album of mine on his record label. I did an album specially for his label and included a re-working of Swedish Rhapsody on it. All the backings on the album for Connie were just myself and my midi guitars and Mac.
The Swedish Rhapsody you've heard is the reworked one.
This is the original that I arranged the strings etc for. The string arrangements were done in Notator Creator at the time so it was no problem to get them to play as samples.
The ORIGINAL version

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 24 Feb 2014 9:59 am

Please tell us wanna-bes about the guitar, the tuning, the amps, the affects, direct into the board?

How did you land that gig?

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 24 Feb 2014 10:10 am

Ray answer to last question is---pure talent.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 24 Feb 2014 10:11 am

Just tell me............was it a BLACK Guitar or what?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 24 Feb 2014 10:59 am

Isn't Basil's recording on the Steel Guitar Forum CD?

Basil: looking forward to playing with you again in early March.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 24 Feb 2014 1:45 pm

Answers:-
Skipper, the guitar was/is as black as the Ace of Spades..Black Emmons P/P 1970 ser # 1415D
The one used on all my sessions..
I did NOT use George 'L's' cords.
"Low Z Pack" out of guitar to pedal

My pedal, a Stereo Morley.

Direct into my Mac via Akai A/D converter.
Effects = EMT240 Plate,
BBC "Peaklar" "A programme compressor/limiter using"
"light- controlled variable -loss elements"
"and noise reduction gate"
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1966-44.pdf

Strings Ernie Ball Nickel wound.
Gauges:-
1= F#.012
2= D#.014
3= G#.010
4= E .013
5= C#.015
6= B .017
7= G#.022 P
8= E .032 WOUND
9= B .036 WOUND
10=G#.046 WOUND

Picks Dunlop .018" Thumb pick Dunlop L
Bar BJS
My monitors

Amp Quad 33.
+ a lot of gleaned knowledge..

My copedant:-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/patricia.h ... nings.html

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 24 Feb 2014 2:40 pm

Alan Brookes wrote:Isn't Basil's recording on the Steel Guitar Forum CD?

Basil: looking forward to playing with you again in early March.

You're correct Alan it's track 44 on the

And yes we could have some fun when you got over here. A little light break is just what the doctor ordered.
It's been heavy weather lately with all the TV Shows etc.. The Daniel O'Donnell one was a great trip down memory lane for both of us. I produced his first hit...

Behind the scenes on the show:- http://youtu.be/-DSZXjGhWug

BTW in 2012 Daniel was the first artist to have a different album in the UK charts every year for 25 consecutive years and he's sold over 10 million albums..
We go back a long way together on records.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 24 Feb 2014 10:52 pm

Basil, I could tell it was a BLACK Emmons and that's the truth.

I sure do appreciate your sharing all the great photo's and recordings with us at this time. I'd heard a number of your Hawaiian recordings but I must say, you've outdone yourself on this most recently shared work product.

I just can't get enough of it. Your work was exquisite. In no way comparing your playing with anyone else........I must say however, that your style/tone was the closest to anything that Emmons ever did. By that I mean, I put you in a side by side dead heat with Mr. Emmons. Really great stuff.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 25 Feb 2014 5:36 am

I'm truly humbled by your comparison, in my mind I have only ever tried to be a Steel Guitarist/Musician, with my prime knowledge and skill base being in the musician field.

I am now getting to feel quite guilty as the kudos, (whether in my mind justified or not)has prompted me to practise, something I've not done since about May of 1963. I've rehearsed a little but I practise never. I know shame on me.!!

I vow that I will strive to live up to and go beyond what people perceive me to be.

Just at the moment my Hawaiian and GAS style of playing is on hold, as my better three quarters (Pat) broke her left wrist on August 28th last year and is still not fully recovered enough recovered to be able to play. Without her I haven't got the heart to play the music we've always played together.

BUT------>
As a technical consultant/musical director/performer on a new Television channel that launches later in the year, I will be bringing the Steel guitar to the fore.

On the Brolly & Friends show (A Weekly Saturday Night Chat/Music show) I am musical director, featuring in the chat with guests and also playing a steel instrumental on EVERY show.
With a different guitar on each show and sometimes an instrumental indicative of the particular guitar and it's era.
Fortunately I have at my disposal my own guitars and those of close friends some of whom are avid collectors.

My guitars and I have our own special little rostrum, it's my own little Island.

The first show with Daniel O'Donnell was done with my `other` 1970 Emmons D-10 (BUT because of my involvement with producing a lot of DoD's records and also playing on a lot of his and others in the higher echelon of the Irish Show-band fraternity, my first two instrumentals were instrumental versions of Irish Songs. "The Rose of Tralee," and "Pretty Little Girl from Omagh" The first being Old School Irish ballad and the later being what's known here as "Irish Country".

Because the show is for the Irish Diaspora world wide these two were played VERY straight and not as "Showpiece" fancy Instrumentals, just as easy listening genre`.
The audience actually sang along with them.
Later on in the series I will expand the technicality somewhat, but firstly, small steps. After all one instrumental each week for the next 4-5 years will give me scope for all styles of playing and SLOWLY introduce musical gymnastics. This will be a learning experience for the viewers: And myself.

4 Ireland TV will be on satellite and freeview, when the frequencies are allocated by OfCom I shall post the information hither and thither and I'll not dither, it will be posted herein post haste..

Sorry about the cross betwixt the litany/War and Peace, They (whomsoever "they" are) say, "Ask Basil the time and he'll tell you how to build "Big Ben""..and i've just confirmed one of my particular mores..

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 25 Feb 2014 6:45 am

Basil,
Thank you for your interesting writing and beautiful photos. The Lo-Z pack grabbed my attention. Herby Wallace gave me one about twenty years ago and it's been sitting on my desk all of these years. Since the day I received it, it has never worked. Can you tell me a little about it, such as who made it, when and where did you acquire it?

The one in your picture is the only other one I have ever seen and I've always been curious about it.

Thank you Basil, and all the best to you.

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Paul E. Brennan · Post by **Paul E. Brennan** » 25 Feb 2014 2:27 pm

Basil is a living legend and a major inspiration to many of us in the Irish music scene. It's great to see people in the US discover this wonderful musician. Not that Basil has been undiscovered of course.

I hope you're keeping well Baz. Regards to Pat.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 25 Feb 2014 2:47 pm

I nominated Basil for the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame about five years ago, and I still have hopes that someday they will recognise his talent for what it is. Whether on steel or with regular guitar, Basil is a thoroughly professional and competant musician, and deserves better recognition.

I'm hoping Pat can make a swift recovery. It must be hard not to be able to play guitar after playing for all those years.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 25 Feb 2014 2:47 pm

"Begin the Beguine" is an amazing piece of work. Bravo, maestro.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 25 Feb 2014 5:29 pm

Thanks Paul, I thought I was the Bane of the Steel Players in Ireland, primarily because I introduced the concept of playing regular guitar and steel in consecutive sections of songs, That of course required one to be holding the guitar whilst playing the steel. Known colloquially as "Doing a Basil"

Thanks for all your diligent and stirring "Back Room" endeavours Alan. don't think it's gone un-noticed.

Mr Steiner sir, I DO value your comment, appreciation from one's peers is the highest accolade one can aspire to..
Sometimes it seems that over here in the relative wilderness beyond the Blue Horizon, that we go unnoticed. This thread has possibly helped rectify that misconception and probably given inspiration fellow players this side of the pond to "Climb Higher"..Yes Herb you are one of the few who've noticed that the solo on Begin the Beguine is an almost note for note facsimile of Mr. Shaw's original..
'Twas not easy..

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 25 Feb 2014 6:08 pm

Basil,

Most enjoyable, Thanks!

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Feb 2014 4:24 am

Thank you Craig.

For info on my album sales etc, go here:-
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=127488

Any and all comments are most welcome, I'm enjoying the attention..

Michael Coggins · Post by **Michael Coggins** » 26 Feb 2014 10:19 am

basilh wrote:Thanks Paul, I though I was the Bane of the Steel Players in Ireland, primarily because I introduced the concept of playing regular guitar and steel in consecutive sections of songs, That of course required one to be holding the guitar whilst playing the steel. Known colloquially as "Doing a Basil"

Thanks for all your diligent and stirring "Back Room" endeavours Alan. don't think it's gone un-noticed.

Mr Steiner sir, I DO value your comment, appreciation from one's peers is the highest accolade one can aspire to..
Sometimes it seems that over here in the relative wilderness beyond the Blue Horizon, that we go unnoticed. This thread has possibly helped rectify that misconception and probably given inspiration fellow players this side of the pond to "Climb Higher"..Yes Herb you are one of the few who've noticed that the solo on Begin the Beguine is an almost note for note facsimile of Mr. Shaw's original..
'Twas not easy..

...and here is the great man himself.... "Doing a Basil"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kECNGvN3i1Q

This video (what year??) features Ireland's own Ray Lynam and Sligo guitar hero Francie Lenehan with the wonderful Tammy Wynette.
As Paul said, Basil is a legend and his name is synonymous with steel guitar in this part of the world. Looking forward to the TV show

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Feb 2014 11:51 am

These would be more like "Doing a Basil" Electric guitar + Steel. OMG the hair ..

Blue Jean Country Queen

Queen of the Silver Dollar

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 26 Feb 2014 12:05 pm

THANKS so very much for posting your video's.

There you've been all this time and virtually unknown
to the rest of us here on the SGF.

I'm so glad that your version of "Swedish Rhapsody" came to my attention from my good friend Bob Hickish from up Washington way, and that Mike Neer was kind enough to post it here on the SGF for me, and got all of this started.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Feb 2014 1:41 pm

No Problem Ray, I'm delighted to be here (on Earth that is) and on the forum..

There are lots of videos of Pat and myself on YouTube..About 80 or so..

https://www.youtube.com/user/basilhenriques

The Steel Guitar Forum

BASIL HENRIQUES of the U.K.

BASIL HENRIQUES of the U.K.

Ok Basil............how 'bout the rest o'the story?

Hey Malcomb...................

Great stuff here Basil..................

Well now Basil..............