Sun, Sep 13, 2009

Bossacucanova Interview

Bossacucanova is a project that has become a band has just celebrated 10 years. Guanabara set down with the guys for a chat.

BOSSACUCANOVA – Date: 24/08/09

1. BossaCucaNova is unique not only for mixing Bossa Nova with Electonic beats, but for placing the Bossa first and the eletronica second. How was this idea developed in the beginning of the group?

Bossacucanova is a project that has become a band. We all started at the Albatroz studios, where myself (Alex Moreira), Márcio Menescal and Marcelinho da Lua were studio technicians and in charge of recording sessions for remarkable bossa artists, such as Os Cariocas, Carlos Lyra and Wanda Sá, besides Roberto himself. We loved those songs, but we were also listening to funk, hip hop and acid jazz. One day, we had an idea to remix Os Cariocas’ Só Danço Samba. We wanted to check out the artists’ reactions. The receptivity was excellent. We repeated the process with recordings from Menescal (Barquinho), Carlos Lyra (Influência do Jazz and Maria Moita – whose Bossacucanova’s version is the soundtrack for a Spanish telephone company’s commercial ad), Wanda Sá (Meditação), Sylvio César (Consolação) and Cláudia Telles (Samba de uma Nota Só). All of a sudden, we had enough material for a full album, which was released in 1997. We didn’t have big plans but good things began to happen afterwards.

2. Last year you celebrated 10 years of BossaCucaNova and also the 50 years of Bossa Nova, with a historical concert in Rio and a CD/DVD. Tell us a bit about this double-celebration.
We are now releasing a DVD and CD Live, in Rio de Janeiro. On the DVD we also have a 1-hour documentary with many artists, the original Bossa Nova’s Masters (Menescal, Joao Donato, Carlos Lyra, Marcos Valle) and the new generation of Brazilian Artists. We tried to rescue the meetings such as the Copacabana’s apartments in the 60’s. That’s our tribute to this great movement.

3. Legendary musician Roberto Menescal (and Marcio’s father) is considered one of the “popes” of Bossa Nova. How do you see (as a band) his influence in your work?
When you think of Roberto Menescal, you immediately think of Bossa Nova, but Menescal was a producer who discovered a lot of important Brazilian artists such as Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Gal Costa, Jorge Ben, etc. For us he is like a musical father. Always willing to listen and talk to us.

4. Do you have plans to work in Europe with BossaCucaNova every year?
Yes. We always try to make concerts in Europe, but at summer because winter is so cold for us (ha, ha, ha). Europe is a big centre for culture and the most important festivals in the world are held there.

5. How do you see the international reaction (audience and press) to your work?
As a great thing. I think the Brazilian music has a magic and maybe the people feel the summer flavour.

6. You are playing an exclusive London gig at Guanabara – what can the audience expect?
Good times, fun and I hope people will dance and enjoy!

Guanabara was created by www.dancingBee.net | also by Dancing Bee » CucaBrazuca.com » DicasDeLondres.com » dslrsofar.com