• Master drummer Duduka Da Fonseca and his Rio-based Trio, interpreting Brazilian Samba Jazz compositions by North American jazz icons Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and others.
• Duduka Da Fonseca has been hailed as one of the leading drummer/band leaders in Brazilian Samba Jazz, re-uniting here with his Brazil-based Trio for their third ZOHO CD release, in ten exquisite arrangements, including "Jive Samba", "Sco's Bossa" and "Speak Like a Child".
• Since his arrival in New York in 1975, Da Fonseca has performed with, and has appeared as a sideman on over 200 CDs, with North American jazz greats Joe Henderson, Tom Harrell, John Scofield, Gerry Mulligan, Claudio Roditi, Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano and many more.
• Da Fonseca has toured internationally with Brazilian legends Antonio Carlos Jobim and singer Astrud Gilberto, and formed the outstanding Brazilian jazz group Trio da Paz with guitarist Romero Lubambo and bassist Nilson Matta.
AN EVERLASTING LOVE AFFAIR
The wealthy Rio de Janeiro soccer impresario Arnaldo Guinle sponsored the first European tour in 1922 of the legendary innovator of modern Brazilian Choro, Alfredo da Rocha Viana, Jr., aka Pixinguinha, and his very important and entertaining band known as Os Oito Batutas (The Magnificent Eight). The songwriter, composer, arranger, and saxophonist/flutist Pixinguinha and the Os Oito Batutas served as trail-blazing ambassadors for Brazilian music and culture as they performed for a historic six-month residency in the Scheherazade Cabaret in Paris in 1922.
It was during that monumental nightclub engagement over 90 years ago that one of the most inspired and productive relationships in the last century of modern music making started to catch fire: an eternally passionate and mutual love affair between Brazilian music and American jazz. There is a wonderful legend about another great Giant of American Music, Louis Armstrong, meeting Pixinguinha during that magical time in Paris. What is most important to know is that these two creative forefathers both played a centrally vital role in developing and nurturing our music with the enormity of their hearts and souls.
Since forming his first samba jazz trios and all star bands in the mid 1960s, including being a co-founder of the landmark ensemble Trio Da Paz, master drummer Duduka Da Fonseca has done far more than most in combining American jazz and the heart of Brazilian music, shining the bright light of his soulful swing on what is most uplifting and heartwarming in both cultures. This music is all about abiding love and friendship. The fundamental idea for this special project was germinated after a conversation between Duduka and his friend David Benechis, a Brazilian lawyer and writer, several years ago while Duduka was visiting his hometown, Rio de Janeiro: magical interpretations of Brazilian-inspired compositions by major American jazz composers such as Keith Jarrett, Joe Henderson, Clare Fischer, and John Scofield.
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 From left to right: Alfredo da Rocha Viana, Jr., aka Pixinguinha; Louis Armstrong.
Duduka's Trio with bassist Guto Wirtti and pianist David Feldman has grown in the past five years into one of the most harmonically and rhythmically resourceful and cohesive ensembles of its kind. Just listen to the ingenious samba cruzado in the hypnotic opening with Nat Adderley's Jive Samba and the tender samba canção, Kenny Barron's dreamy ballad Clouds.
"I grew up in this music listening intensively to -- and learning from -- the work of folks like Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and other icons of American jazz," reflects Duduka, "and it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life in music to see and hear how much many of these Giants were deeply influenced artistically by Brazilian music and culture."
Truly Music of the Americas. A very fulfilling experience for all of us.
-- Todd Barkan
New York City, October, 2014
Produced by Duduka Da Fonseca & David Feldman. Recorded by Roger Freret at Zaga Music Estúdio, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, on April 9,10 &11, 2014. Assistant Engineer: Toninho Silva. Mixed by David Feldman at Vira Studio, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Mastered by Alexandre Rabaço at Aura Mix & Master, Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Duduka Da Fonseca photos by John Clifford. Group photo by Claudia Helena. Package design by Al Gold. Executive producer: Joachim "Jochen" Becker.
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