In the fresh sounds of Brazzamerica, three veteran Brazilian-American musicians tell their life story in the universal language of great music.
What to expect from Brazzamerica? The name says it all: “we want to show the flavor of music, we wanted a name that said: we play Brazilian music, jazz, and American music,” explains Brazzamerica’s bassist, Leco Reis. Following their goal of expressing themselves with something more personal than just familiar Brazilian music, they created a harmonious and intriguing fusion that reflects “not only our experience as Brazilians who came to the USA, but how our music has changed living here. Our music tells our story.”
On their self-titled debut CD, Brazzamerica, pianist Cidinho Teixeira, bassist Leco Reis, and drummer Edson Ferreira showcase an exciting level of telepathy, communication, and understanding in their musical interactions. Such synchronicity cannot be forced, only developed over time. The trio has been performing regularly in New York for the past five years, a rare luxury these days, and the result is this CD full of delicious music that will leave listeners wanting more.
All three were born in Brazil and enjoyed impressive musical success in their homeland before moving to the USA. The songs on Brazzamerica are a mix of Teixeira’s originals and Brazilian music standards. In choosing the material, the trio wanted to include Brazilian songs but aimed to avoid presenting the bossa nova style as it was played in the USA in the 1960s and 1970s. They aimed for “something with swing and a good groove. It had to be good to listen to and fun to play,” points out Leco Reis.
Overflowing with energy and raw elegance, the sounds of Brazzamerica have a deceptive simplicity, full of the interactions that result from over a century of collective experience among the three.