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LIVE REPORT

Ivan Lins and João Bosco
8 May 2003 - 2nd Stage at Blue Note Tokyo at Blue Note Tokyo


The best of Brasilian popular musicians pack the night with heat and passion
- Two of the central figures of contemporary Brasilian music scene share the stage ofBlue Note Tokyo.


When I found out about this special opportunity to attend a show by two of the leading composers/performers of today's Brasilian popular music scene, I simply couldn't let it pass by. A night of live performance by Ivan Lins and João Bosco.

Ivan Lins's name must be familiar to those who followed Lee Ritnour and Dave Grusin back in the 80's. In fact that's how I found out about him, from the video "Live from the Record Plant" and the studio album "Harlequin". Later I was stunned by the wealth of his solo material, which continues to capture the hearts and minds of discerning audience of jazz-fusion with ethnic rhythms, or those who just want to hear good music that stands repeated listening.

João Bosco is known as the foremost of Afro-Brazillian singer-songwriter and has a very sophisticated samba sound of his own mixed with classical guitar passages ala Villa-Lobos and well-crafted rhythmic structure reminding of Nana Vasconcelos.

Now I must face this difficult task of describing what is ineffable. When a sheer beauty and mesmerizing fun fills the mind, how can words play? I might just say the show was absolutely beautiful and rest this show review, but that does not seem to do justice, so I go on.

When João Bosco walked up to the stage, with his classical guitar in his left hand, it was as if a fresh breeze came over from sunny Copacabana. Bosco sang in deep voice, keeping rhythm on the lower strings of the guitar while adding ever moving chords that do not stay on for a bar. From time to time, guitarists and pianists argue which one is better called the one-piece orchestra, and this time the guitarst has an obvious win. Bosco enticed the audience with his magic of voice and the strings all by himself for the first three songs, then brought to the stage the second guitarist Nelson Faria and the bassist Nel Conceicao.

The two backing musicians were superb. Taking solos in turn, that sounded very much musically neccessitated, rather than just to prove their technique, the two went on and around the one-man orchestra of Bosco in a best way to enhance the overall musical experience.

The show featured an epic tune which was led by tasty classical guitar solo ala Villa-Lobos and intricate passages with all three instruments and thevocal performning as what would usually take a 10 piece band to play. For the last song Bosco invited Ivan Lins on keyboards, percussion and vocals. Lins' mouth trombone was quite amusing and in fact made a great impression of him as a superb arranger/composer as well as being a fantastic performer.

After Bosco and his band left the stage, Lins brought his band on stage while playing introduction to the next song on the keyboards. When the last musician stepped on the stage, the full fun of Brazilian contemporary music was already there: the distinctive vocal harmonies and the rhythm of samba, complex dynamics and pleasantly flowing melodies.

A part reminding of Eumir Deodato and parts presenting the air of Antonio Carlos Jobim, the show was nothing short of being fantastic. As the music continued, the audience was taken to the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro or the shining beaches of Copacabana.

Lins' music has universal appeal. While his material often refers to his love of his country or the native city, the songs were received with such enthusiasm that as if the audience of the Blue Note Tokyo were Japanese Brazilians visiting home.

The band featured two guitarists, Ze Carlos on accoustic and Leonardo Amuedo on electric. Ze Carlos also played Cavaquinho which is a small size 8-string guitar about the size of bluegrass mandolin and has sound
characteristic not unlike Charango but brighter. Ze played it beautifully on several numbers. Leonardo had GK-2 attached on his guitar and emulated semiacoustic sound that Pat Metheny would be most certainly impressed.

For the last number the stage was filled with two bands of Lins and Bosco for a spectacular show of hands and voices. All in all, the shows were nothing short of being amazing.

Lins expressed his love of Japan and its culture and people, and said if he were asked to live in Japan he would gladly do so, and would like to have his own radio show. His passion for the radio media seems to characterize a man who was brought up to the music played on the radio, and wanted to have his own songs aired. Now as a man as he is, Ivan Lins should by all means own his own radio show, if not a whole station, and I for one would be just happy to be tuning in.

Musicians:
Ivan Lins (Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Guitar)
Teo Lima (Drums)
Leonardo Amuedo (Electric Guitar)
Marco Brito (Keyboards)
Nema Antunes (Bass)
Zé Carlos (Accoustic Guitars, Cavaquinho)

Joao Bosco (Vocals, Guitar)
Nelson Faria (Guitars)
Nel Conceição (Bass)

SET LIST:

João Bosco
1. Nação
2. Terreiro de Jesus
3. Coisa Feita
4. Desenho de Giz
5. Senhoras Do Amazonas
6. Moral da História
7. Quilombo / Tiro de Misericórdia / Escadas da Penha
8. Chege de Saudade (Session with Ivan Lins)

Ivan Lins:
9. Depois Dos Temporais
10. Meu País
11. Lua do Arpoador
12. Samba do Aviao
13. Ex-Amor
14. É de Deus
15. Vivo Sonhando / Triste

João Bosco & Ivan Lins
16. Milagre (Session)

Report by Tatsuro Ueda
Edit by Asako Matsuzaka
Many thanks to Blue Note Tokyo

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