|
rec. April 21-23, 1991
Maria Joao was born in Lisbon, Portugal, where she started her musical career in 1982. Her first major exposure came about at the Cascais Jazz Festival in 1984. In 1985 she and her group won the First Prize at the San Sebastian Festival. During the next two years concerts, radio and TV gigs throughout Europe followed. In 1987 Maria also started to work in duo with Japanese pianist Aki Takase and performed at most of the major festivals in Europe (Montreux, Berlin, Tampere, Rotterdam etc. and she also toured Canada, the United States and Japan.
"Sol" shows Maria Joao exhibiting her roots - the music of her native country. It is the first time that she records with her all Portuguese group, aptly named CAL VIVA (The Portugese name for the limestone with which houses are regularly whitewashed).
When Maria decided to do that song form so close to the Portuguese heart - the fado - (in expressiveness related to the blues in jazz), Ermenio De Melo was flown in from Lisbon to add the typical sound of the Portuguese guitar to her performance.
"SOL" is a beautiful example how a native musical tradition can be transformed into contemporary expression through the language of jazz.
|
