BossaCucaNova, Esplanade Concert Hall Sep 9 August 11, 2009

Latin Grammy Award nominee and pioneers of the nu bossa scene in Brazil, BossaCucaNova promise to put Singapore audiences in a Brazil state of mind with their lush fusion of bossa nova with beats at their debut concert here.

Come and soak up the Brazilian feeling, the Brasilidade (Bra-ZILI-dazhe, meaning Brazilitude or Brazilianness) that this exuberant group have in abundance.

BUY  TICKETS FROM SISTIC

Dubbed “One of Rio’s coolest bands,” BossaCucaNova or “bossa with a new mind” remains unique, partly because the trio’s approach continues to treat bossa nova as the main dish and the embellishments as garnishes, rather than the other way around.

It is a perfect illustration of the way Brazilian musicians incorporate outside influences and of the way they can turn those elements into music that is both freshly modern and deeply, traditionally Brazilian — not to mention arm-wavingly, butt-swingingly, irresistibly danceable.

Bassist Márcio Menescal – son of first generation bossanovista Roberto Menescal – joined his friends DJ Marcelinho DaLua and keyboardist Alexandre Moreira burst onto the international music scene in 1999 with their milestone debut Revisited Classics (Six Degrees), a collection of classic bossa nova songs given new vigor through the skilfull and adventurous application of funky beats.

Their music has taken them around the world to share stages with the likes of everyone from DJ Cheb I Sabbah to Carlos Santana and their songs have become the soundtrack for everything from Woman on Top (starring Penelope Cruz) to a Spanish telephone company’s commercial. In fact, the band were invited to be part of the famed concert on Rio’s Ipanema beach in March 2008 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bossa nova, starring pioneers of the style and which attracted 80,000 fans.

In Singapore, the threesome will be joined by flame-haired husky voiced regular BossaCucaNova singer Cris Delanno, Flavio Mendes on guitar and Dado Brother on percussion.

ARE YOU GOING TO CATCH BOSSANOVA?

RSVP ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

BossaCucaNova – Bom dia Rio (Posto 6) – Song August 11, 2009

BossaCucaNova – Minha Menina – Video Clip August 11, 2009

BossaCucaNova – the story August 11, 2009

DJ Marcelinho DaLua, bassist Márcio Menescal and keyboardist Alexandre Moreira started their BossaCucaNova project in 1999 with their milestone debut Revisited Classics (Six Degrees), a collection of classic bossa nova songs given new vigor through the application of funky breakbeats, skillful turntablism, electronic manipulation and adventurous mixology.

BUY  TICKETS FROM SISTIC

Arguably the first electronic take on bossa nova to come out of Brazil, it also happened to be the first release from the Beco Dranoff (Red Hot)/Crammed collaboration Ziriguiboom, laterto become the home of Brazilian songstresses Bebel Gilberto and Cibelle.

It all started at the Albatroz studios, where the trio were studio technicians in charge of recording sessions for remarkable bossa artists such as Carlos Lyra, Wanda Sá and Roberto Menescal (Marcio’s dad). “We loved those songs, but we were also listening to funk, hip hop and acid jazz”, says Márcio.

The idea of fusing the smooth sounds of well-bred classic bossa nova recordings with up-to-the-minute electronic elements wasn’t exactly new — Brazilian musicians had been combining Brazilian music with modern influences for years, and European DJs had already figured out that bossa nova’s laid-back, free-flowing rhythm could add a crowd-pleasing spice to their own material. Regardless of their good intentions, however, many of them incorporated Brazilian elements in simply decorative forms.

Their sophomore effort Brasilidade on which they paired up with first generation bossanovista Roberto Menescal was nominated for a Latin Grammy award in 2002 for Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album. Next up was Uma Batida Diferente (“A Different Beat”), which like their predecessors is full of party-ready gems as well as gentle jazz.

Their most recent CD/DVD combo “Ao Vivo” (January 2009), comprising tracks recorded live at Rio’s Canecão concert hall as well as songs from a series of acoustic sessions at Nara Leão’s apartment in Rio. It features the beat-heavy crackle folks have come to love from BossaCucaNova, but also includes some gentler, mellow and insightful moments.

BCN & Marcos Valle – Os Grilos – DVD August 11, 2009

BCN & Carlos Lyra – Maria Moita – DVD August 11, 2009

St Thomas Boys Choir in The Jakarta Post March 2, 2009

The Jakarta Post of 28 Feb has a comprehensive article about the St Thomas Boys Choir here.

St Thomas Boys Choir, Leipzig – Esplanade Concert Hall, March 6 January 25, 2009

St Thomas Boys Choir, Leipzig

The world-famous boys choir of the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany, one of Europe’s oldest cultural entities and one of the oldest choirs in the world, will be thrilling audiences in Singapore in their debut here.

BUY TICKETS

With a nearly 800 year-old history, the Thomanerchor is one of the oldest as well as leading ensembles in the German choral tradition.

More importantly, it boasts a direct line back to composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

He was their erstwhile choirmaster, who during his 27 year tenure composed his most important works such as the St Matthew Passion, and they are one of the foremost interpreters of his legacy.

Buried under a bronze memorial plate in front of the altar, Bach – himself a Thomaner – managed to compose enough church cantatas for one to be sung every Sunday for five years without repeating.

While their repertoire ranges from Gregorian to modern music, the heart of the choir’s musical work are motets and Bach cantatas.

Many of his cantatas, oratorios, masses and passions were performed in the St Thomas Church by the choir for the first time and this unbroken tradition continues to draw thousands to their weekend concerts to this day.

Concerts at home and since 1920, in every major music-centre abroad, showcase the choristers’ versatility.

They have performed with major orchestras ranging from the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra to the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Kurt Masur.

Famous Thomaner alumni include composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (the son of J.S. Bach), vocal group Ensemble Amarcord, baritones Stephan Genz and Matthias Weichert, organist/composer Hanns-Martin Schneidt and pop/rock group Die Prinzen.

Lineup for 50 Years of Bossa Nova – Singapore July 12, 2008

The icons at this concert including Roberto Menescal, Wanda Sa, Joao Donato, Marcos Valle, Vinicius Cantuaria and Patricia Alvi as well as a whole lot of other oustanding supporting musicians. Watch this space for detailed updates on each of them.

Bossa all-stars in gala concert at the Esplanade July 11, 2008

Welcome to the 50 Years of Bossa Nova – The All-Stars Concert in Singapore blog.

Three generations of bossa nova stars are set to make Singapore one of four global cities to swing so fast, yet swing so gentle to the unique and much loved style of Brazilian music that has seduced the world for half a century.

Tickets go on sale on July 24 via Sistic.

Rio’s Ipanema neighbourhood kicked off festivities in March with a huge concert on its famous beach. Most of the artistes in the Singapore line-up performed in that concert as well as the one at the Barbican goes Bossa concert in May.

With this blog we hope to gather a community of bossa-lovers in Singapore and beyond and also bring you updates on the concert.