Available Now via Blueazul Records:
Philadelphia's MINAS Combines Big Band Jazz
and Brazilian Bossa Nova on Symphony In Bossa
"Haddad and King are succeeding in bringing a new wave of Brazilian
music to Philadelphia ... the music is hot" - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia-based husband and wife duo Minas, comprised of guitarist/vocalist/composer Orlando Haddad and pianist/vocalist/composer Patricia King,
have performed together over the past three decades in a variety of
formats ranging from duo to ensemble to orchestra and big band. Haddad
and King have combined their Brazilian and American roots to create a
sound that merges north and south with big band jazz and Brazilian bossa
nova - the result is an album 10 years in the making: Symphony in Bossa (available
April 14 via Blueazul). This ambitious album serves as a monumental
achievement for the Brazilian culture that they have dedicated their
lives to preserving and spreading. The music includes fresh takes on old
classics such as "The Girl from Ipanema," "Quiet Nights," "Triste,"
"Waters of March," and introduces three Minas originals, "Sinal Verde," "Amazonia," and "Only the Moon and the Stars."
Symphony in Bossa features more than 50 musicians, including The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, conducted by trumpeter Terell Stafford. The album is augmented by a string section and many guest artists, including Brazilians Leonardo Lucini (bass), Adriano Santos (drums), Zé Maurício (percussion), and Philadelphia's own Larry McKenna (saxophone), John Swana (trumpet) and Tony Salicandro (flute). Orchestral arrangements were written by the late Philadelphia arranger and University of the Arts professor Bill Zaccagni (Bobby Ridell, Patti LaBelle), specifically for Minas.
In 2004, Haddad & King began a collaboration with Zaccagni to create a large-scale work written specially for Minas, incorporating original compositions with traditional Brazilian repertoire and enhanced by big band and strings. "It is our hope that Symphony in Bossa expands the unique marriage of American big band jazz and Brazilian bossa nova into new musical realms," states Haddad and King. The album is dedicated in memory of Zaccagni, who passed away in 2007, leaving Minas with the extraordinary gift of this music. "It represents some of his best writing," comments Haddad and King. "It is a reflection of his passion for Brazilian music and big band jazz, resulting in sophisticated, imaginative and lush musical pieces."
One of the tracks included on Symphony in Bossa is the timeless composition "The Girl From Ipanema." The Minas reissue commemorates the 50th anniversary of the song, as well as the album from which it stems - the quintessential Getz/Gilberto. The album and single won several Grammy® Awards including "Record of the Year" in 1965. Minas' version of "The Girl From Ipanema," while opening and closing with dreamy and ethereal instrumentals, maintains the essential elements of authentic bossa novas: Portuguese/English, male/female vocals, jazz/samba mix, nylon-string guitar/tenor saxophone vibe, cross stick/wood block beat. Nonetheless it is presented in a new arrangement in which exciting big band and lush strings interact with vocal melody lines and dialogue with the tenor saxophone solo, played by McKenna.
About Minas:
Based
in Philadelphia for the last 30 years, Minas has had a consistent
impact on the area's cultural life, not only performing and exposing
audiences to the music and culture of Brazil, but making a difference in
the area of education. Haddad and King formed Minas in 1978 at the
University
of North Carolina School of the Arts. They proceeded to play all over
the eastern United States before moving to Brazil, where they lived,
entertained and traveled, absorbing the essence of Brazilian culture. In
1984 Orlando and Patricia returned to the United States and raised a
family while performing and recording extensively.
Haddad has taught Brazilian Percussion and Jazz at the University of the Arts for over 10 years and has organized and taught Samba Percussion to Ph.D. students (Ethnomusicology) for several semesters at University of Pennsylvania. Minas' program Brazilian Adventure, on the roster of Musicopia, has been presented to over half a million students in public and independent schools. Minas has also presented master classes at many colleges in the U.S. including Brown University, University of Pennsylvania and Ohio State University to name a few.
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| Triste from "Symphony in Bossa" |
Minas · Symphony In Bossa
Blueazul Records · Release Date: April 14, 2015
For more information on Minas, please visit: MinasMusic.com
For media information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Matthew Jurasek · matthew@dlmediamusic.com
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
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