Friday, June 01, 2007

Bossa Nova Meets USA - Compilation by Caetano Rodrigues

The United States have the second position at Loronix visitors ranking, which is not a surprise, the US have the largest music market in the world and country affairs with Bossa Nova started since the beginning, being both influenced by each other. More country info at this post closing, let's talk about the music.

Blogger has been down in the last hour and I could not brief with Caetano, but I want to say that what is being delivered here for the US do not have any parallel within the industry. Our International tribute makes me understand that Caetano is also mastery on building compilations. I though compilations were just a matter of setting up a bunch of tracks together on any given order. I was wrong. Compilations are all about making fine selections and align them on a manner that you make a kind of curve with ups and downs using different situations to delivery a solid listening experience as a whole.

This is Bossa Nova Meets USA - Compilation by Caetano Rodrigues. Breathtaking panorama of Brazilian music renditions performed by best of breed American artists. You should take it and file as unique. Nineteen tracks and 80 minutes of listening pleasure. I will highlight some situations.

Caetano selection starts with Oscar Peterson Trio - Triste, worth the compilation alone, there are several different situations inside the song, sometimes they "Jazz away" and you realize how they will be back to Triste.

The third track features Nat King Cole performing Garota de Ipanema, a unique interpretation, recorded just a few months before Nat King Cole's passing.

I could make others picks but, I will jump to the last track Desafinado, by The Hi-Lo's, wise close of Caetano that makes you feel with that feeling of "I want to hear it again!". Tracks include:

Performers

Oscar Peterson Trio

Coleman Hawkings
Nat King Cole
The Ritz
Jim Tomlinson
Joe Pass
Rosemary Clooney & John Pizarelli
Laura Fygi
Tonny Bennett
Bobby Hackett & Billy Butterfield
Ella Fritzgerald
Stacey Kent
Larry Vuckovicy
Frank Sinatra
Super Sax & L.A. Voices
Carmem McRae
Monty Alexander
Trio
Julie London
The Hi-Lo's

Track List

01 - Triste - Oscar Peterson Trio
02 - Um Abraco no Bonfa - Coleman Hawkings
03 - Garota de Ipanema - Nat King Cole
04 - Meditacao - The Ritz
05 - Ela e Carioca - Jim Tomlinson
06 - Voce - Joe Pass
07 - Samba de uma Nota So - Rosemary Clooney & John Pizarelli
08 - Insensatez - Laura Fygi
09 - Samba do Aviao - Tonny Bennett
10 - Corcovado - Bobby Hackett & Billy Butterfield
11 - So Tinha que Ser com Voce - Ella Fritzgerald
12 - The Gentle Rain - Stacey Kent
13 - Rio - Larry Vuckovicy
14 - Wave - Frank Sinatra
15 - Bossa No No - Super Sax & L.A. Voices
16 - Flor de Liz - Carmem McRae
17 - Amor em Paz - Monty Alexander Trio
18 - Desafinado - Julie London
19 - Chega de Saudade - The Hi-Lo's

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It was very hard to find an image to represent the United States, I tried several different approaches with buildings and nature, skylines, panorama, beaches and none could meet my expectations for USA. So I decided to dig my personal photo collection taken with my digital camera in US and I found this picture with homage to John Lennon taken in front of Dakota Building, Central Park, New York.

There is something special with this image; it was taken at my first day in New York and the exact day when people were celebration 20 years of John Lennon's passing. I did not realize that and it was a very special moment for me. My apologies on putting this picture using personal matter as criterion, but it represents a special day for me, a day that zecalouro spent a great time in the United States.

It is not a surprise the second position taken by the United States last year. The US is the major music market in the world, Brazil is the second one and both countries were musically connected since Bossa Nova has emerged.

Let's go thought the numbers and since my web statistics software makes regional analysis it is interesting to inform Loronixers that all 50 US regions reached Loronix last year, California took the lead with 23% of visitors, followed by New York with 13%, Illinois 5% and Texas 4%. There are Loronixers on 1,335 US cities with New York concentrating most visits with 10%, followed by Los Angeles 8%, San Francisco 5%, Irvine 4% and Chicaco with 3%.

Thanks very much Loronixers from the US, you are on each US States and 1,335 cities and this is truly awesome from zecalouro perspective.

Thanks, zeca