He never forgot his italian origins, (he liked to say that he was born aboard a ship when his parents emigrated from Italy, also if he was born in Philadelphia), and in last years of his life he played different times in Italy meeting some italian jazz players. The following concert was performed in Turin at Teatro Erba, on March 26, 1971 by an italo-american quartet with the philadelphian jazz pianist Lou Stein (1922-2002) and the italians Marco Ratti (1932-2007): bass and Gil Cuppini (1924-1996): drums. The tapes of this concert were preserved by Venuti's family for years. Many years after they were issued in the 100 LP collection I Giganti del Jazz by italian publisher Curcio and till now never reissued.

On PENNY LANE The pop standard has been the jumping off point for jazz artists since jazz s birth. The formula is simple, but not easy. You stay true to the melody and you go where it takes you. But the Beatles? Yes, especially the Beatles. In John Basile s Penny Lane, the guitarist is honest to both of his project s masters. The iconic melodies of Lennon and McCartney and Harrison are given homage, not just simply run through as a starting point for some string gymnastics. They are there and they are honest. Yet, at the same time it is Basile s jazz guitar that let the classics breathe new air and come to life in this form. You hear it; actually you experience it, in the subtle and smooth Eleanor Rigby with its rich tones and lines that recall the original but with a fresh feel…