Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 95 - Goodbye to the Summer Heat and Hello to Some Brazilian Artists in This Review! Women’s Edition! Japanese Musicians of Samba/Bossa Nova, Part VI

“Good bye, Summer Heat!” Bossa Nova's J-Jazz Female Artists Volume 1

A major feature on bossa nova, examining famous samba and bossa nova recordings and masterpieces from composers and performers that will blow away the lingering summer heat.
This time, we will focus on J-jazz related female artists who cover important bossa nova songs.
The title of this issue is “Goodbye to the Summer Heat!” The reason I chose the title “Good bye to the Summer Heat!” is because listening to bossa nova music makes you feel very cool, both musically and emotionally. Please listen to bossa nova to cool down.

The Appeal of Female Artists in Brazilian Music

There are many female artists who sing Brazilian bossa nova. The first of these is Astrud Gilberto, who has been featured in this column. Others besides Astrud are Nara Leão, Rossa Passos, and Elis Regina. In addition to instrumental players, female jazz singers have also released bossa nova albums.
Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald sings Jobim's songs in “Ella Abraça Jobim”, and Sarah Vaughan also featured Brazilian material in “I Love Brazil”. Jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall also produced an album of bossa nova that included songs by Jobim on her album Quiet Nights. Many female musicians are also attracted to bossa nova, such as jazz singer Caryn Allison, who produced an album of Brazilian songs that includes bossa nova called Immagina:Songs of Brasil.

■ Recommended album: Lisa Ono, Essȇnsia (1997)

The B&W (black and white) artwork symbolizes the atmosphere of the album.
The producer is Yoichi Murata, trombonist of First Call and a successful arranger.
Yoichi Murata assembled a group of New York's finest that included bassist Mark Egan, keyboardist Gil Goldstein, and horn players Andy Snitzer, Randy Brecker, and Michael Brecker. Toninho Horta joined in as a change of pace. Toninho Horta is a Brazilian guitarist and vocalist who released many solo albums. Toninho's presence had a positive influence on the album.
I was on location in Bali in 1997 for a program production with Yoichi Murata.
At that time, I had the opportunity to listen to Lisa Ono and part of the Essensia album in a hotel room. The album, which was produced by a New Yorker who made full use of Murata's New York connections, sounded somewhat aesthetic and gave me an impression that it was different from the categories that bossa nova has.
Gil Goldstein's acoustic piano playing, which is reminiscent of Antonio Carlos Jobim, sounded as if Jobim had descended. “Gil can play the piano just like Jobim,” commented Murata-san.
The room at the Hayat Hotel in Bali was so humid that Murata's score rippled, and the sound from the DAT seemed to lower the humidity in the room a little.

Recommended song: “Red Blouse”

“Red Blouse” is from Jobim's famous album WAVE.
It is earlier than the original track and has a strong sense of freshness due to Lisa Ono's scat tracing the melody.
The rhythm section is Dan Gottlieb and Mark Egan of the early Pat Metheny Group. The highlight is Bob Mintzer's bass clarinet solo and Randy Brecker's flugelhorn solo in response. The Murata arrangement, including these extravagant solos, is in good taste, and the two solos are the height of sophistication, maximizing the effect of the first-call musicians.

Recommended song: “Afternoons in Thailand”

Toninho Horta is one of the contributors to this album. His presence in the New York crowd really adds to the album.
“ Afternoons in Thailand” is Toninho Horta's masterpiece with a beautiful melodic line.
Lisa Ono is very good at singing these simple songs. Toninho's guitar solo is beautiful, and the placement of Mark Egan's fretless bass solo is another fine example of Murata's arrangement.

■ Recommended album: Hiromi Kikuoka, Que Bom! (2003)

This is the second album by bossa nova singer Hiromi Kikuoka from 2003. It includes Latin songs that make you want to start dancing and important bossa nova songs such as “Ricardo Bossa Nova” and “Oishii Mizu” (Delicious Water). The new and colorful arrangements of the songs are fresh and unprecedented.
The album also credits as co-producer Yoshiro Nakamura, a bossa nova artist introduced in “Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal”.

Recommended song: “Recado Bossa Nova” (The Gift)

This is a hit song by Eydie Gorme and a cover of a classic jazz song. Many musicians have covered the song because of its quality.
A young jazz guitarist, Yosuke Onuma, participates in this track and plays a nice solo. At the end of the solo, he plays a passage from the famous bossa nova song “Disafinado”.
This is a technique often used in jazz, but it’s pretty fancy!

Recommended song: “O Grande Amor”

A famous song from the famous album Getz-Gilberto. Many jazz musicians, including Makoto Ozone, have taken up this song as well. Yoshiro Nakamura, who also serves as co-producer, arranged this track. This track has a traditional approach because of Nakamura's involvement.

Musicians, albums, and recommendations featured in this issue

• Artists: Lisa Ono, Hiromi Kikuoka, Yoichi Murata, Toninho Orta, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Mark Egan, etc.
• Albums：Essênsia and Que Bom!
• Songs: “Red Blouse,” “Afternoons in Thailand,” "Recado Bossa Nova,” “O Grande Amore”

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