Guido Basso

Basso was born in Montreal, Quebec, and he began playing the trumpet at the age of nine. He studied at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. His professional music career started in his teens, and American singer Vic Damone included him on an international tour in 1957–58.[1]

In 1958, he joined singer Pearl Bailey and her husband, drummer Louis Bellson, touring North America with them and their orchestra until he moved to Toronto in 1960. There, Basso became a studio trumpeter and occasionally played harmonica. In 1963, he became music director for CBLT's Nightcap, a job he held until 1967.[1] He subsequently held a number of music director positions with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as well as being active as a performer.

Beginning in 1975, he organized and led big band concerts at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition, featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Basso has also worked with Buddy Rich, Oliver Jones, Carol Welsman, Diana Krall and Diana Panton, among others.

Basso was a charter member of Rob McConnell's Boss Brass, playing with the band for over twenty years. He was also part of the Sound of Toronto series of reunion concerts by the Boss Brass in 2008.

He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1994.[1] Basso had one daughter, Mia Basso Noble, who was an accomplished musician and songwriter. She died of cancer in September 2013.

• Member of the Order of Canada, 1994
• Juno Award, Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Turn Out the Stars, 2003
• Juno Award, Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Lost in the Stars, 2004[2]