Now that Winter has officially begun in Brazil, you’d be right in thinking that you would need a pretty good reason to fly south to Rio de Janeiro . Well, okay. It’s Bossa Nova’s 60th birthday, and Rio is where it was born. Still not convinced? Here are five more great reasons – in the form of summer-stretching concerts – courtesy of Rio’s Blue Note Jazz club.
1Wanda Sá & Friends – June 30th, 2018
A pair of young Bossa Nova singers made their mark during the Brazilian summer of 1964: In New York, Astrud Gilberto became the Girl from Ipanema, while Wanda Sa recorded her debut album a stone’s throw away from the real Ipanema, before flying north to the USA to become the first female vocalist for Sergio Mendes less than a year later.
Wanda Sa is back home now, ready to celebrate her birthday onstage at the Blue Note with a few special friends, including Joyce Moreno, Paula Morelenbaum and Carlos Lyra.
2Azymuth – July 14, 2018
Fact: It’s impossible to be a Brazilian jazz fan without pledging allegiance to this legendary group, which just keeps rolling along from one great album to the next. Another fact? You’ll have a much better chance to hear Azymuth in a summer-stretching concert by picking up a cheap RT than you will waiting for them to tour the US again. One more? Music just sounds better in Rio. One night, two shows featuring keyboardist Kiko Continentino, bassist Alex Malheiros and drummer Ivan Conti. Plus the ghost of Jose Roberto Bertrami.
3Leny Andrade and Gilson Peranzzetta – July 20, 2018
This night is set aside for a pair of musical giants to reunite and… resonate. From Andrade’s deep-voiced improvisations to the sound board amplifying Peranzetta’s acoustic grand, this is as intimate a setting as you could ever wish for when it comes to the essence of true Brazilian jazz.
4Roberta Campos – July 27, 2018
This rising star from inland Mato Grosso is no stranger to listeners of The Sounds of Brazil’s streaming station and as a relative newcomer, Roberta Campos has a bright future. Already nominated for a Latin Grammy, Campos has a knack of cloaking emotion and experience with a silky-smooth delivery that belies her rockish roots. You’ll want to sit front row center for this one. Certainly one of the most exciting shows since Blue Note Rio opened its doors, and an excellent choice as a summer-stretching concert.
5Os Bossa Nova – João Donato, Carlos Lyra, Marcos Valle e Roberto Menescal – September 22-23, 2018
Okay, so yeah, the white-hairs in this video have created more music, mischief and mayhem than Bossa Nova could ever hope to hold, bust such were the times when Bossa was born and now 60 years later, this quartet of songwriters is responsible for creating a great percentage of Bossa Nova’s best-known songs. This summer-stretching concert is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event, and with three September weekend shows, our advice is: #SeeThemAll.
