Dan Costa: Live in California

Inimitable Style

— In a pandemic year, when music production turned inwards and artists were suddenly unable to perform in front of live audiences, Dan Costa did not stop producing great music. You may recall back in April when I spotlighted the amazing video “Love Dance,” featuring Dan Costa and Ivan Lins. Prior to releasing that video, Costa had been doing his Skyness album tour. In the nick of time, on February 29, 2020, right before the Coronavirus forced shutdowns all over the world, Costa presented his music to a live audience in Santa Cruz, California, at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. The concert was recorded live and has now been released in all major streaming platforms. It is his first live recording.

Live in California draws from Costa’s previous albums, Suíte Três Rios and Skyness, both reviewed here in MB. From the former, you hear “Baião,” “Maracatu,” and “Aria.” Those first two tracks are clear examples where Costa’s affinity for Brazilian traditional music is on focus. He has a commanding knowledge and feel for Brazilian music with just the right amount of jazz influences. From Skyness, Costa presents “Sete Enredos” and “Tempos Sentidos.” All of those are his original music. The remaining three tracks feature classics from the Brazilian songbook. Costa has preferred to record his own music in the past. In this new live album, however, he chose three classics to add to the repertoire of the CD. The first of those is “Garota de Ipanema” (by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes). One must know that recording one of the world’s most performed songs is a challenge. Leave it to Costa to shine through with his arrangement and rendition. When I asked him about the choices for these three classics, he said this about “Garota de Ipanema”: “It is one of those songs that represents bossa nova, and at the same time is known by people who are not used to jazz and bossa nova.”

Although we saw his performance for “Love Dance” (by Ivan Lins, Gilson Peranzzetta, and Paul Williams) last April, in this live recording, there are no vocals. It is, however, with “O Barquinho” (by Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Bôscoli) that you will hear the most vibrant rendition of the album. The arrangement clearly shows Costa had a lot of fun doing this song. It is a joy to hear him let loose in his inimitable solo style. Roberto Menescal is no stranger to Costa. They had collaborated in Skyness. So, by including “O Barquinho” here, Costa is “honoring a Brazilian music star.” Furthermore, “O Barquinho” is dear to Costa’s heart, as he explains that the song “was the first jazz theme” he learned in his teenage year along with Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood.”

Live in California clocks in at only thirty-six minutes, but the music and arrangements definitely grab your attention from beginning to end. It is a very good live recording.

ALBUM INFORMATION

Dan Costa
Live in California
Independent (2020)
Time: 36’00”

Tracks (all music by Dan Costa, except where noted):