Travel Pick: Pop Culture and Cinema in England
50 Years of Bossa Nova

50 Years of Bossa Nova
featuring Vinicius Cantuária, Dori Caymmi, João Donato, Celso Fonseca, Joyce, Carlos Lyra, Roberto Menescal, Clara Moreno, Wanda Sa and Marcos Valle.

One of the most influential of all popular music movements, bossa nova arose out of a striking constellation of talent based in Rio in the late 1950s. Composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, lyricist Vinicius de Moraes and guitarist Luiz Bonfa and João Gilberto all found themselves drawn to similar sensibilities – harmonies influences by jazz and classical music, sophisticated lyrics and musical understatement - underpinned by a unique rhythmic guitar shuffle.

Guitarist, singer and composer Carlos Lyra, and pianist-composer João Donato were part of this pioneering group and appear in this unique show. Roberto Menescal, another member of the 50s generation, is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger and composer.

Guitarist and singer Vinicius Cantuaria has melded bossa nova with contemporary experimental rock to great effect. Rio-born singer Celso Fonseca, who’s first major job was playing guitar with Gilberto Gil, has gone on to work with many of the greatest Brazilian artists. And the music of Brazilian singer/ songwriter and producer Marcos Valle went on to become popular on dancefloors across Europe with his swingy, dance-driven style, supported by inventive grooves.

Fernando Merlino, piano
Rodolfo Stroeter, bass
Tutty Moreno, drums
Jessé Sadoc trumpet, flugelhorn
Ricardo Pontes, alto and tenor sax, flute
Adal Fonseca drums, programming
Patricia Alví, back-up singer for Marcos Valle