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Featuring
core-members Orlando Haddad and Patricia King, Minas is one of
the most established Brazilian music groups in the US today. With
a few decades experience performing for American audiences, Minas
creates an intimate and unforgettable musical tapestry that transports
and inspires listeners.
For
over 25 years Orlando and Patricia have been courting north and
south, specifically Brazilian and American music influences from
samba, bossa nova, choro, american jazz and folk. Their new CD,
“Bossa Nova Day” is comprised of 10 original songs based
on these influences; beautiful and whimsical compositions, capturing
the essence of great song writing. If you enjoy music with mood
and romance, it's all there in the intimate interaction of Orlando
and Patricia' s vocals and expressive instrument performance.
Patricia on piano and Orlando on guitar scale down to a full sounding
duo, with enough room to allow their multiple talents as writers,
singers, instrumentalists to come forth. Drawing from both continents’
roots, Patricia and Orlando blend north and south effortlessly
as they comfortably move through Brazilian and American music
textures in both Portuguese and English. A prime example of this
blend is represented in Orlando’s song, "Singing Does
Away with the Blues" which serves up sultry blues gospel
and Brazilian spicy samba on the same plate in both Portuguese
and English. Whereas Patricia's composition, "Hour Glass"
transports American folk music to Brazil as she treats reflective
English lyrics over a slow choro rhythm. A tapestry of moods are
displayed in various music styles from minor ballads tinged with
melancholic traits of fado and choro, to good ole American folk
song coasting on subtle coolness of a Bossa Nova pulse, to upbeat
sambas elaborated with Jazz improvisation and scat singing. This
duo travels from north to south, south to north, with such personal
grace and charm, you would think they were serenading you in your
own living room.
Bossa
Nova Day reflects a perfect marriage in many contexts - lyrics
wedded to melody, the romantic conversation of male and female
vocals, and the fusion of north and south rhythms enhanced by
dynamic work between guitar and piano. This duo rapport exudes
such warm presence of togetherness that only a life-time can produce.
The chemistry speaks for itself on stage...so much in a look that
passes between the couple, conveys the poetry of their life heard
in every note and passage of music. A poignant collaboration of
lyric and music writing is evident on the stunning song, “The
Guitarist” a blend of Patricia's poetry and Orlando's guitar
composition in a duo’s vocal performance so eerily in sync
with more than the music itself. The upbeat tune, “Bossa
Nova Day” by King, opens the CD with a groovy bossa nova
and Cole Porter-style lyrics... "For love and bossa nova
are in the air, just the music setting for this love affair, love
and this bossa nova mood, play the rhythm of my heart, play a
tune”.
In
total Brazilian context, Orlando’s composition “Temporal”
is a direct transport to Brazil with Portuguese lyrics painting
the setting of the beach over a modern sounding 7/8 bossa rhythm
pattern that only a true Brazilian can produce.
No
doubt, the extensive experience of varied performing substantiates
a vital part of MINAS' success. Years spent playing street samba
for American audiences, performing countless city venues - whether
in concert, small jazz clubs or orchestra settings, veteran MINAS
continues to pave new roads, constantly evolving with its original
music, earning the right to be called one of Philadelphia's gems.
MINAS’ community music programs have involved thousands of
youth in addition to extensive educational outreach efforts they
have made in Philadelphia promoting commonalities between Brazilian
music and American Jazz. Not only did MINAS first bring Brazilian
music to Philadelphia some 25 years ago, but relentlessly carries
this music forward, taking the best from the traditions, collaborating
on American soil, consequently expanding new horizons.
Whether
you’ve seen MINAS perform in large ensembles with drum and
brass sections with feathered samba dancers, or in as a Brazilian
jazz quintet with Philly's greatest jazz artists, or in intimate
form as a bossa nova duo, MINAS manages to change its music up,
always with quality and flair. Now that it's just the two of them,
here's yet another chance to fall in love with a new, yet familiar
approach to their music. In this new release Bossa Nova Day, one
would say that Patricia and Orlando have once again renewed their
vows to keep the marriage of their music young and refreshing,
as well as profound and seasoned, by years of love and dedication
to cultivating stories and poetry they bring to life in their
music.
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