Vintage Mid Century Modern Print - Exotic Vocalist Bas Sheva - Star of THE PASSIONS by Les Baxter

Vintage Mid Century Modern Print - Exotic Vocalist Bas Sheva - Star of THE PASSIONS by Les BaxterTreasures from THE MUSIC COLLECTION at Lost Highways Archive & Research Library. By exclusive arrangement with The Grand Review. Print size 24 x 18, and consciously formatted to work with a standard size store bought frame, or custom framed as you see fit. Bas Sheva was the stage name of a fascinating and truly gifted vocalist originally from Philadelphia. She had a career that included early 50s work in the Borscht Belt and the release of a number of

Treasures from THE MUSIC COLLECTION at Lost Highways Archive & Research Library. By exclusive arrangement with The Grand Review.

Print size 24 x 18, and consciously formatted to work with a standard size store bought frame, or custom framed as you see fit.


Bas Sheva was the stage name of a fascinating and truly gifted vocalist originally from Philadelphia. She had a career that included early 50s work in the Borscht Belt and the release of a number of solid and well produced standards on Capitol. Steady yet unremarkable, they still managed to hint at the breadth of power yet to come. That said, it was her brilliant interpretation of traditional Jewish songs with bandleader Hal Mooney on the LP Soul Of A People that first put her on the map.

Then, during an era of surprising musical experimentation by the major labels in the mid 50s that allowed artists like Yma Sumac to find a place in popular culture, producer and composer Les Baxter reeled Bas Sheva in as the star vocalist on the wildly adventurous and experimental suite The Passions. Rereleased on CD and much admired to this day, The Passions and Bas Sheva's performance were too wild for real commercial success in the America of the 1950s.

Bas Sheva passed away suddenly and tragically at 34 from a diabetic reaction on board a cruise ship in 1960.

I acquired this photograph originally knowing nothing of Bas Sheva or her career. I was drawn in first by her eyes, her lips, her ears, her hair, her skin and her far away gaze. To be honest, her silver lame' outfit carried me back to my childhood, watching the gals on Lost In Space. Through all that I spent real face time allowing myself to be drawn in, and having built that relationship so central to what we do here, happily parted with the modest money the antiques dealer was asking and brought her, with love, back to The Grand Review.

• Handmade item
• Materials: Art stock enhanced matte paper, archival ink
• Made to order
• Only ships within United States.

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