Non Stop to Brazil

Times Square

2011-01-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

You turn the square, the times are other. By night, the murmur of the winds brings voices of the past. Nearby, turning left or right you dive into 2011 and find a full of fun and moved night life. By day, enchanting landscapes and beaches wait for you. Your call.

Another shot from the Pistols (not the sex, but the jazz ones) - Tough stuff

2011-01-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

Very, very, very fine! Bang! Bang! Bang! (They are pistols, or what?)

From the Red Sea Jazz Festival

2011-01-18T14:08:00.000-08:00

Meir Ben-Michael shared stages and record sets with no one less than George Benson, Lou Donaldson, Yaron Gershovsky and Grady Tate, for instance. One thing that jumps ahead is his great ability, combined to a invulgar sense of impro based on a secure and flying harmony. Success in New York's night, Meir and companions make Tel Aviv's scene more and more brightful and charmed, so they say. Despite the jazz punch, he toys with rhythm'n blues and such — they say too.

Toninho Horta - Francisca

2011-01-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

Toninho Horta is one of my preferred composers. I have a lot. Here, he shows his expertise with guitar & crew. In the end things go a little confused. Perhaps somebody stepped on the ball. Forgivable. Mr. Horta's music has that 'soul washing' thing.

Ahmad Jamal, years and kilograms ago

2011-01-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

A more than 50-year-old career places Ahmad Jamal in a very special platform, almost as a saint on a cloud. His originality, melody, rhythm, impro and dynamics influenced such pianists as Red Garland, McCoy Tyner, and Herbie Hancock, for instance. This film was recorded when Jack Kerouac was newly on the road, Beatles and Stones were simple teenagers and life was smiling and frank. You didn't identify the theme as Darn that dream, I bet. Neither did I, at first. Tell this to someone else and I'll deny it, be sure.

Lost in paradise

2011-01-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

I stand alone as a mountain. I run along, like the wind. Over trees, sands and waters. Restless. Thinking of you at each sight. Waiting for the day I'm gonna wake up free of the love I feel. Remembrances, then, shall not make difference. Hope it will come soon.

The Jazz Pistols - good stuff

2011-01-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

Nice surprise... Have listened to the band a couple of years ago, just once and only one tune, quickly. Now I've been presented to this Three on the floor (printed in 1997). These guys combine energy of rock, funk and more to jazz wisdom. Gonna look for recent records, including Youtube, try to acquire other CDs and such. You guys just wait. Cool band, talented crew, first quality composition. Bass guitar sometimes reminds me of Jaco. Lead guitar fantastic and drums extremely competent, too. Excellent. A trio, by the way.

Venturing hai-kai waters (not very successfully, but the view is gorgeous, at least)

2011-01-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

What is sky, what is sea? The sun reminds me of thee...

Never get tired of this land

2011-01-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

The photographer was sat there when sun decided to set down and allow him to keep that moment forever. Like a picture of El Greco. Thank you, Mr. photographer. You look to be very talented. And lucky.

Daybreaks in Paraty, by the way, use to be gorgeous as well.

Batida diferente

2011-01-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here, with Gabriel Grossi, Mauricio Einhorn shows why he is respected as one of the most important and talented brazilian instrumentists of all times. The harmonica model with the sharp button reaches near the same range than a saxophone and gives the player almost the same melodic possibilities. Victor Assis Brasil, for instance, started playing harmonica. He composed Tema pro Einhorn, (in Victor Assis Brasil Quintet - 1979/Odeon), by the way. Too bad there was nothing on Youtube about the keyboards and drums musicists. Pay atention the way soloists joke over incidental stuff with this different beat. The related films, at the end, bring Cartola and Caymmi reread themes, among others. Double or triple prize.

Lisa Ono - Sua Insensatez

2011-01-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Lisa Ono meets Sadao Watanabe in Tom & Vinicius' Sua insensatez. Brasility is a state of mind: also Mr. Watanabe swings sort of green and yellow. I've met Mrs. Ono's work not very long ago, and bought almost the whole CDs she has recorded. It is worth, a lot.

Praia do Sono, Sleepy Beach, whatever...

2011-01-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

The sun, lazy in the early moornings and busy when evenings come, gives this place its name. According to the position of mounds related to the sun, the daylight comes late and leaves soon. It's worth to take a scooner and spend wondrows hours of peace and fun up there. The other way to arrive the place is to trail by feet about an hour and a half inside the forest. A great call for who enjoys trekking.

The blog's name, where does it come from?

2011-01-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

It's the name of an old Luiz Bonfá's song. Lisa Ono arranged and recorded it - Non Stop to Brazil - in a way that makes our hearts fly like a silver jet. We're all set, lady. Love waits at the end of the sky (I wish). In spite of the japanese name, Lisa is a Brazilian composer and, as you will hear with your own ears, a sparkling performer.

Victor Assis Brasil: world jazz, Brazilian accent

2011-01-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

Next april 14 we'll complete 30 years without him. In my humble opinion, the most relevant Brazilian saxophonist of all eras, so far. His brightful talent allied to serious study and a monastic dedication had driven him to a single and deserved position.

Trindade, Paraty, Brazil

2011-01-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

From the top of Paraty's balconies, the centuries contemplate us. From along these tepid sands and these fresh waters, the wind has lots of stories to tell. This beauty remains this way, almost untouched, because of the courage and firmness of the caiçara people. They have been fighting real estate speculators since the 50's. And their fight is not ended. The threat goes on.

The Avishai Cohen Trio

2011-01-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

Avishai Cohen, an outstanding upstraight bass player, arranger and composer, plays the bass guitar and the keyboards, too. He gives his name to one of the most interesting jazz groups of present times and has started by studying piano. Then, he moved to bass, inspired by the genius of Jaco Pastorius. At young age, Mr. Cohen left his kibbutz and went directly to New York City, just to study and improve his instrumental skills. Chick Korea, Roy Hargrove, Paquito D'Rivera and Herbie Hancock, to mention some names of a great list, were some of his stage and recording partners. Hope you, my dear friend of anywhere, will enjoy this.

Paraty, for time travellers

2010-12-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

In Paraty the old town looks almost exactly like around 300 years ago. Constructed under fair rules, past and present belong together amongst these walls and roofs. Paradise beachs, enchanted landscapes, blue sea, firy sunsets, cool restaurants, boat promenades, water sports, land trails and a lot more. Come on and watch it for yourself.

Esbjörn Svensson

2010-12-28T16:36:00.001-08:00

The swedish Esbjörn Svensson Trio showed that there is first quality jazz music being composed and played outside the USA, too. Svensson, an extremely creative and consistent piano player, had just climbed to the Upper Stage (too early, at 42), but left an admirable legacy in compositions. As much in quantity as in quality.