The Polish-born Basia Trzetrzelewska crossed the Iron Curtain in the '80s to become an international pop singer and fixture on "jazz-lite" stations everywhere. Born in the industrial city of Jaworzno, she first performed with the all-female group Ali Babki in 1975, touring the Soviet bloc for two years. In 1979 she moved to Chicago to sing with a cover band in a Polish-American club. Two years later she was in London, singing for the jazz-funk group Bronze. She then joined Matt Bianco, a threesome whose hit record, Whose Side Are You On?, featured a smooth pop blend of jazz and Latin styles. In 1985 Basia left Matt Bianco to go solo, taking keyboardist Danny White with her as cowriter.
