Josee Koning: Recorded in Rio - COMPACT DISCS

Josee Koning SKU: 24072182
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Title:

Recorded in Rio

Artist:

Josee Koning

Label:

CD Baby

Product Type:

COMPACT DISCS

UPC:

8713606990713

Genre:

Latin Pop/Rock

Release Date:

2008-12-02

Number of Discs:

1

'If in Brazil artists get stuck recording and releasing live albums with nothing or hardly anything new, where are the audiences turning to for new and innovative projects? One answer is the international market, and among those outside of Brazil, Josee Koning is a shining star. Recorded in Rio is Koning's third commercial solo album with Brazilian music (she has a non-commercial live album with Brazilian music, too). As a follow-up to her successful Dois Mundos, this CD will definitely please all who love Brazilian music. Recorded in Rio is packed with good music, an excellent band backing up Koning's strong vocals and an array of top-notch Brazilian musicians. This project started out in 2001 and was recorded at Discover Studio in Rio de Janeiro, hence the CD title. Koning left the production in charge of Leonardo Amuedo, who also doubles as a guitarist. Besides Amuedo, the main band is comprised of Pedro Moraes and Nema Antunes (bass) and Lucas Reis and Firmino (percussion). Now, the star surprises appear with Antonio Adolfo (piano), Carlos Malta (sax), Jessé Sadoc (trumpet), Téo Lima (drums), Lula Galvão (acoustic guitar), Sivuca (accordion) and Ivan Lins (vocals), who also gave Koning two brand new songs for this album. The repertoire covers Tom Jobim, Ivan Lins, Antonio Adolfo, Caetano Veloso and Guinga and also includes other compositions by dutch songwriters (with Portuguese lyrics by Abel Silva) in a most surprising blend with Brazilian flavor. If you do not peek at the liner notes, you will not be able to tell which songs are not originally Brazilian. The album opens with the Lins soft ballad 'Te Quero Tanto,' where Amuedo's guitar accompaniment is the main focus in this soothing arrangement. Lins does some nice backing vocals here. Not waiting for a late surprise, Koning immediately does one of the most amazing renditions of this seldom heard Adolfo song, 'Coração do Brasil.' The song is one of those tunes praising the beauty, flora and fauna of Brazil -- very much like 'Aquarela do Brasil' (by Ary Barroso) -- and Koning's performance is breathtaking. The arrangement is bold and rich with brass and percussion precisely in the right dosage. This is the kind of song that sticks in your mind, and this arrangement can certainly become a standard. Koning's voice is mellow and at the same time strong. If you have ever been to Brazil, the song will echo inside of you. This is probably the best track in this album. Antonio Adolfo himself does a superb piano solo. Continuing her trip across Brazil, Koning invites Sivuca to provide the flavor of northeast Brazil in 'Silêncio em Amsterdam.' The title will not fool you, but the triangle, zabumba and tight forró arrangement will definitely make you think of the barren countryside of Brazil -- except that the song is talking about Amsterdam. Fine touch. Guinga's song 'No Fundo do Rio' receives a great Carioca feel, particularly with Lula Galvão's acoustic guitar accompaniment. His solo is eerily close to Guinga's original. The arrangement, co-signed by Galvão and Amuedo, has just the right instrumentation giving you the feeling as if you were sitting in a bar in Rio de Janeiro drinking caipirinhas and jamming with friends. The second Lins song presented to Koning, 'Quando Você Não Vem,' also features the songwriter in the vocals. Their voices have a nice blend in this tender love song. In the next two tracks, Koning pays tribute to Moacir Santos with two of his most well-known songs, 'Nanã' and 'April Child.' In the first, Pedro Moraes's bass is the driving force and is helped by Carlos Malta's tenor sax. Showing her versatility and comfort singing in another foreign language, Koning carries 'April Child' effortlessly. The rest of Recorded in Rio continues with a good balance between ballads and samba. In 'Corsário,' Amuedo's guitar accompaniment has a flamenco influence, whereas in 'Desde que o Samba É Samba,' the opening batucada makes room to a quieter samba beat. Recorded in Rio is more than pleasing and full of surprise guests, superb arrangements and the inimitable performances by Koning, who proves once again how comfortable and competent she is singing some of the best of the Brazilian music songbook.' Egídio Leitão - (musicabrasileira.org) Biography Josee Koning Dutch singer Josee Koning has always had a passion for Brazilian music and is well known for her interpretation of the 'Música Popular Brasileira', not only in the Netherlands but also in Brazil. She started her career in the 1980's and had been working with a wonderful selection of Brazil's finest musicians since 1995. Josee's latest album Bem Brasiliero for instance, was recorded in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo with the sublime musicians of Nosso Trio [Nelson Faria (guitar), Ney Conceição (bass) and Kiko Freitas (drums)] and participation of the great João Bosco. Nosso Trio also participated at her Dutch [!] album Verdronken Vlinder, a tribute to her late husband and great Dutch lyricist Lennaert Nijgh. With this album Josee succeeded in blending beautiful Dutch lyrics with sensitive Brazilian chords and rythms. The result is a delightful album, that proves that music is universal when it is performed by full-hearted super musicians. Josee Koning's cooperation with Brazilian musicians started off in 1995 with her first solo-album Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. It was recorded in Los Angeles, and produced and arranged by the famous Brazilian Dori Caymmi who also worked with stars like Sarah Vaughan, Herbie Hancock and Elis Regina. In April 1996 Josee even shared the stage with Dori and his also famous musical family in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In October 1998 Dori Caymmi came to Holland to record Josee's second solo-album entitled Dois Mundos / Two Worlds. In addition he brought his friend, the famous Brazilian singer/composer Ivan Lins to sing some of his famous songs with Josee. The album was successfully released in the Netherlands and Brazil. In 2004 the track Coração Vagabundo was even used for the Brazilian telenovela Seus Olhos. Ivan Lins has been participating in Josee's musical projects since. He had a leading role in Josee's third album Recorded in Rio, that was recorded in the famous Discover Studio in Rio de Janeiro. This album was arranged and produced by Uruguayan guitar virtuoso Leonardo Amuedo, and featured drummer Teo Lima and accordion wizard Sivuca. Josee studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory and gained more in-depth knowledge of the Brazilian music and culture, studying in Rio de Janeiro. She teaches Brazilian music at the conservatories of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Discography * Bem Brasileiro [Coast to Coast, 2007] nominated for Edison Award!! * Verdronken Vlinder [Artist&Company, 2005] * Recorded in Rio [Brigadoon Vocal|Sony Music, 2003] * Dois Mundos [Challenge, 1999 - Holland; Seven Music, 2002 - Brazil] * Josee Koning e Grupo, live at Nick Vollebregt's café [1997 - Radio Netherlands] * Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim [Columbia, 1995] with Batida * Live in Caprera [DVD 2007] * Tudo Bem [Polydor, 1992] * Terra do Sul [Timeless, 1987] * Batida [Timeless, 1983]

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