Thursday, February 18, 2010
That sea songHow many tunes are the offspring of “O Mar”?
On 1 August 2008, at KPFA FM in Berkeley, Eddy Pay and I presented a program of Bahian sambas by Dorival Caymmi. In my preamble about the composer, I noted that his best-known song, “O Mar,” begins with the same two notes that open another internationally famous sea song: “La Mer” by Charles Trenet. “O Mar” was composed in 1938, recorded on 7 Nov. 1940, and released on two sides of a Columbia 78-rpm disc in December of that year. “La Mer” was published five years later.
This interesting coincidence was filed away to rest undisturbed until an e-mail arrived in late December 2009 from my friend Anthony Baldwin. Tony is a Languedoc-based Brit, a record producer with expertise in 78-rpm reissues and a musical taste to match. He’s also an accomplished jazz pianist and a velvet-voiced bilingual singer. His CD Un Seul Couvert... (2009), which Tony released in France under the nom de plume B.T. Lafayette, is a big favorite in my household. (Hear the title track in this video. Two other tracks are available on iTunes.) The CD may be purchased directly from the artist.
Anthony Baldwin |
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Seven years ago, I was fortunate to make Tony’s acquaintance thanks to his interest in Brazilian music of the 1920s–40s. Lately, his attention has turned to Dorival Caymmi. In the e-mail he sent last December, Tony wrote in his inimitable style:
In lieu of my post-déjeuner siesta yesterday, I decided to clean up the 1940 two-sided version of Caymmi’s “O Mar.” I was wrestling with a few obstinate clicks in Part 2 of the song (i.e., the samba section), when I kept being reminded of another number that I couldn’t quite place. Finally, I worked out what it was: the 1967 Glen Campbell smash “Gentle on My Mind,” penned by one John Hartford. The similarities are quite striking, though I can’t imagine how Mr. Hartford got to hear Dorival. Read the complete story in Musica Brasiliensis.
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22:10
 
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Voice of the samba renaissanceLuiza Dionizio finally debuts in Devoção.
Although Devoção is her first album, Luiza Dionizio is hardly a beginner. Samba devotees, especially the regular patrons of Lapa’s music clubs, have been listening to her since the early 2000s. In 2003, Luiza began performing with the legendary sambista Wilson Moreira and the following year was said to be preparing a disc with his sambas. To everyone’s loss, that album never saw the light of day.
The singer is a native of the northern Rio suburb Vila da Penha, home of the famous church and site of the historic Festa da Penha. To this proud background, Luiza adds a devotion to the escola de samba Império Serrano, which brings to mind Dona Ivone Lara, with whom Luiza shared the stage a couple of years ago and whose voice vaguely resembles hers. Other titans with whom she performed include Elton Medeiros, Luiz Carlos da Vila, Moacyr Luz, and Fátima Guedes.
Well-versed in traditional samba from her days of attending rodas in Oswaldo Cruz and Cascadura during the 1980s, Luiza Dionizio sings the songs of established sambistas but also those of younger composers such as Luiz Carlos Máximo, Wanderley Monteiro, and Toninho Nascimento. And regardless of the age of their authors, Luiza chooses songs that haven’t been recorded to death by other vocalists. And she chooses wisely; the songs possess lyrical content in abundance, as well as melodic values. The resulting collection is fresh while exuding authenticity.
A word on the production. When the artistc direction of a debut CD is shared by the likes of Paulão 7 Cordas and Featima Guedes, even the most blasé listener should sit up and take notice. Paulão also acted as producer, musical director, and arranger, as well as participating in repertoire research.
The very attractively designed booklet provides song lyrics and complete technical information, including musician credits for each tracks. This is an album that couldn’t fail to please even the most discerning listener.
Hear Luiza Dionizio on her website.
Luiza Dionizio: Devoção
(Universal Music 60252711097; 2009) 46:42 min.
01. Pensando Bem (João de Aquino/Martinho da Vila)
02. Preceito (Toninho Geraes/Roque Ferreira)
03. Tempos Depois (Wanderley Monteiro/Nelson Rufino)
04. Velho Amigo (Paulo Cesar Pinheiro/Luiz Carlos Máximo)
05. Alma (Ratinho)
06. Vila do Meu Coração (Luiz Carlos Máximo/Luiz Carlos da Vila)
07. Ultimo Verso (Clóviz Beznos/Elton Medeiros)
08. Conceição da Praia (Luiz Carlos Máximo)
09. Mar da Jangada (Evandro Lima/Toninho Nascimento)
10. Braços de Lã (Luiz Carlos da Vila)
11. Antes Assim (Wilson Moreira)
12. Jardim das Oliveiras (Délcio Carvalho)
13. Oxum Ololá (Raimundo Santa Rosa)
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16:27
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