Brasil In Time @ Paradiso (Amsterdam)
da
http://www.rushhour.nl/event_detail.php?idxEvent=526
BRASIL IN TIME
Date
09 May 2008
event
BRASIL IN TIME
artists
JACKSON CONTI aka MADLIB & MAMAO OF AZYMUTH LIVE, J-ROCC, Jaoa Parahyba & Dj Nuts..
genre
Hiphop, Brazil
Location
Paradiso Amsterdam
Netherlands
Price
€ 16,00
Comments
JACKSON CONTI aka
MADLIB & MAMAO OF AZYMUTH LIVE, J-ROCC,
Jaoa Parahyba & Dj Nuts, Tony Allen, La Melodia,
De Javaanse Jongens, Lefto, Kindred Spirits Soundsystem
Jackson Conti: Sujinho
Madlib loves Brasilian music.
Back in 2002 that wasn’t so obvious. At that time he was beginning the
experiments that led to the Yesterday New Quintet records from 2003 to
today. Peanutbutter Wolf used to slide Coleman and myself CDs of those
early “rehearsals” as Madlib would call them and we spent many hours
dissecting and discoursing on them and how he was changing the music.
When the possibility of the Keepintime crew going to Brasil came up I
asked Madlib one night outside the Rootdown if he wanted to go. “Cmon
man…. Azymuth is one of my favorite groups” he confided. I had seen
many Azymuth records over the years, the Rio de Janeiro trio on
Milestone with some dodgy looking covers. I knew their proto-house
anthem Jazz Carnival but they weren’t my favorite group.
Music has a beautiful way of making you re-evaluate what you may have
discarded. Madlib is an artist that gives one new ears every couple of
years if you choose to pay close enough attention. I’m happy to say
that in regards to Azymuth – Madlib blew our heads open. The next time
I saw him at the Rootdown, he slipped me a CD of covers. All Azymuth.
To this day that CD still makes me giddy. Entrando Pelo Janela from
that session made it onto the Keepintime remixes. Madlib had gone
through the Azymuth catalogue and taught himself to play his favorite
songs and then recorded it. Okay. Now I’m back at the record store
frantically looking for those dodgy looking covers.
When we went to Brasil to recruit drummers the only name I knew I
wanted for sure was Mamão. Mamão is the drummer of Azymuth. I didn’t
know how to pronounce his name right and indeed my pronunciation of
Azymuth (Azze-muchi if you need to know how its done!) confused most
Brasilians. João Parahyba of the legendary Trio Mocoto picked up the
phone and called him for us and from there Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti was a
part of the project.
Mamao is a fantastic drummer and a warm generous person. That scene in
the film where we played him the Madlib CD is a beautiful emblem of the
spirit of the Brasilintime. Mamão reacted with genuine excitement at
the music – singing and playing percussion along with it. Even calling
in his wife to hear. We knew that a Madlib, Mamão collaboration would
only take time and organization.
Mamao of course isn’t simply the drummer of Azymuth. He has a long
career in the studios of Rio that stretches back to the Jovem Guarda
era with the rock group the Youngsters and which includes sessions for
Roberto Carlos, Marcos Valle, Maria Bethania, Hyldon, Edu Lobo, Chico
Buarque, Gal Costa among many others. He is also the drummer on the Dom
Salvador record with the monster break! He continues to be active
playing and producing many projects for Far Out Records.
In 2006 after the Premiere of Brasilintime in Sao Paulo, Madlib,
Coleman and I went to Rio. We had two reasons to be there, to play at
MD2’s record release party and record with Mamão. On a rainy humid Rio
evening we convened and after some deliberations Mamão played an hour
and half of rhythms. The excitement in the room was palpable as he went
through his paces. Lots of Whooos were heard and pounds were swapped.
Madlib then played a new CD of tracks that he had been working on with
this project in mind and there was one that stuck with Mamao. Segura
esta Onda is that track and it is really a tribute to Azymuth. Mamao
ended up singing on it.
It was a great night and within two months Madlib had turned those rhythm tracks into the album you have in your hands.
Filled with songs from the greats of Brasilian music of the mid sixties
to early seventies. Luiz Eca, Chico Buarque, Joao Donato, Baden and
Vinicius, Marcos Valle, Dom Um Romao, Airto even George Duke gets a
look in. And of course Azymuth.
This a very special set of music.
I hope you have as much fun listening to it as we did watching it being made….
B+
Los Angeles
December 2007