The German Connection
Guitarist Boris Kischkat and saxophonist Jochen Feucht have been working together on various music projects for more than a decade. They both enjoy a firm reputation in the jazz scene of Germany. A few years ago the two musicians enriched their musical experience by an interest and love for Brazilian music. Not much later the duo BOSSAlibre was born. The repertoire includes works of some of Brazil’s finest composers like Egberto Gismonti, Guinga, Ivan Lins, among others. But it’s Antônio Carlos Jobim who inspired them to record this album. The 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova in 2008 gained world wide attention and also helped in the choice for recording the music we hear on Por Toda Minha Vida. Jazz and Bossa Nova have been going hand in hand together ever since the sounds travelled outside Brazil. And once again that friendship between the two music styles is confirmed by the wonderful performance of these the two instrumentalists. They succeeded to deliver a wonderful dedication to the work of Jobim, who (let’s not forget!) learned to play the piano by the guidance of German born composer and music teacher Hans-Joachim Koellreutter (1915-2005).
To realise this project BOSSAlibre invited two European based Brazilian musicians to join them. Vocalist Viviane de Farias was born in Rio de Janeiro with German blood from mother’s side. Both in Europe and Brazil she sang in projects ranging from Baroque to Opera and Experimental Music along with innate devotion for Brazilian music. Currently she works together with Mauro Martins in a bass and voice duo called Balakumbala. Mauro Martins (born in Curitiba) is the other invited guest. He built up an impressive reputation as both bassist and drummer, having performed with artists as diverse as Phil Collins, Jovino Santos Neto and Rosinha de Valença, to name only a few. On Por Toda Minha Vida he’s featured on percussion.
Together they make this into a highly enjoyable album. The arrangements are often surprising and show a respectful originality. There are popular and also less popular works from Jobim, and they’re all treated in a very personal way. The instrumental rendition of “Vivo Sonhando” features a wonderful flute solo, accompanied by acoustic guitar (also featured in a lovely solo) and light percussion. The following “O Grande Amor” is brought back to its basics in a lovely duet between the acoustic guitar by Boris Kischkat and the soprano sax. “Piano na Mangueira” is in a trio format, featuring Jochen Feucht accompanied by acoustic guitar and a driving pandeiro. The delicate duo rendition (sax an acoustic guitar) of “Retrato em Branco e Preto” is just breathtaking. “Chora Coração” sounds like it’s recorded with a wink to the work of Heitor Villa-Lobos; in an almost classical way with the vocals by Viviane de Farias as a shining feature. On all the tracks she performs in, the singer proves to have a great voice for Bossa Nova. Actually, all four musicians show a very good craftsmanship. Throughout the album the acoustic guitar plays the supportive role which is so common in Bossa Nova, while the percussion instruments are chosen with all delicacy. This comes together in the closing “Águas de Março.” It’s the conclusion of a surprising album that stands out in good taste.
You can learn more about BOSSAlibre and its music on MySpace and their own web site.
ALBUM INFORMATION
BOSSAlibre
Por Toda Minha Vida
Independent (2009)
Time: 56’47”
Tracks:
- Só Tinha de Ser com Você (Tom Jobim – Aloysio de Oliveira)
- Por Toda Minha Vida (Tom Jobim – Vinícius de Moraes)
- Vivo Sonhando (Tom Jobim)
- O Grande Amor (Tom Jobim – Vinícius de Moraes)
- Samba do Avião ((Tom Jobim)
- Piano na Mangueira (Tom Jobim – Chico Buarque)
- Retrato em Branco e Preto (Tom Jobim – Chico Buarque)
- Chora Coração (Tom Jobim – Vinícius de Moraes)
- Anos Dourados (Tom Jobim – Chico Buarque)
- Brigas Nunca Mais (Tom Jobim – Vinícius de Moraes)
- Luíza (Tom Jobim)
- Águas de Março/Waters of March (Tom Jobim)
