Fans and students of the steel string guitar know that Robbie Basho, along with John Fahey and Leo Kottke, is credited with co-founding the American Primitive school of guitar playing that has influenced countless guitarists. Basho was easily the least successful of the three, though it was his American raga system that paved the way for American Primitive. In the decades following his death in 1986 at age 45, his influence and reputation have grown. Bashos deeply spiritual approach, intellectual rigor, and formal musical explorations reveal him not as a primitive at all, but as a multi-faceted artist who drew inspiration from both East and West: He was influenced by East Indian raga, Native North American ceremonial chants, classical and Sufi music, and Appalachian folk and blues. Basho followed Fahey to Vanguard and issued a pair of truly unusual yet enduring outings that sank from view almost immediately after release due to their challenging contents, but they have been reissued and reconsidered since: 1972s The Voice of the Eagle (Basho called it a Hopi raga) and 1974s Zarthus (its Persian overtones reflected the influence of guru Meher Baba). Those two albums were not the end of Bashos story with Vanguard. In 2009, the label contacted guitarist, Basho champion, and archivist Glenn Jones about an unreleased session found on a tape that lacked documentation. Vanguard did release it as a digital-only album called Indian II, but it vanished quickly. Twelve years later, Jones discovered that the mysterious tape had come from a single marathon New York recording session in 1971 or 1972 that had also netted Voice of the Eagle and Zarthus! Songs of the Great Mystery is not comprised of second-rate tunes. Given its circumstances of origin, its not surprising that some Native American themes found on The Voice of the Eagle are also manifested here. Some of these tunes offer a blueprint for appearances on Bashos later albums: A Day in the Life of Lemuria was retitled Leaf in the Wind for 1978s Visions of the Country; Night Way and Laughing Thunder, Crawling Thunder were partially recomposed for 1981s underrated Rainbow Thunder as Crashing Thunder. The imposing Thunder Sun is a roaring, hyper-strummed paean to the land and sky. Thunder Love offers a romantic promise from a spiritual deity to a human being. Songs of the Great Mystery marks the first time these tracks have been issued in physical form. Furthermore, a bookend alternate version of A Day in the Life of Lemuria has never previously been heard. The set features track-by-track annotation and a liner essay from Jones, as well as rare photos and reproductions of Bashos handwritten notes that emerged from the tape box. Painstakingly remastered, it appears just as British director Liam Barkers celebrated documentary Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho becomes available for purchase. This is an essential release for the guitarists fans as well as students of American raga, American Primitive, and avant-folk music. ~ Thom Jurek

Rovi