Journey to Rio
Like many Americans, Roger Davidson discovered the bossa nova through the recordings of Stan Getz, and since then, the sounds of Brazil have been especially close to his heart. In four previous CDs – Brazilian Love Song, Bom Dia, Rodgers in Rio, and Bingo – he brought his unique spin to the music of a country that, remarkably, he had never visited. In October 2011, that changed.
Accompanied by his producer, the Argentine bassist and bandleader Pablo Aslan, Roger took his first trip to Brazil. Most of his eight days there, which he spent in Rio de Janeiro, were occupied by six recording sessions. Roger arrived with a hundred of his Brazilian compositions to choose from; the songs he recorded – in addition to several new ones he composed in Rio – comprise these two CDs.
Original compositions by Roger Davidson (Musica Universalis, BMI)
Roger Davidson, piano
Marcelo Martins, tenor and soprano sax, flute
Gilmar Ferreira, trombone
Leonardo Amuedo, guitar
Ney Conceiçao, electric bass (CD1 tracks 1,2,9 – CD2 tracks 1,2,4,7,8,12)
Sergio Barrozo, acoustic bass
Rafael Barata, drums (CD1 tracks 1,2,9 – CD2 tracks 1,2,4,7,8,12)
Paulo Braga, drums
Marco Lobo, percussion
Executive Producer: Roger Davidson
Producer: Pablo Aslan
Associate Producer (USA),: Alexandra Aron
Associate Producer (Brazil): Luciana Pegorer and Marcelo Pera (Delira Musica)
Assistant (Brazil): Ugo Perrota
Recorded October 2011 at Zagamusic Studios, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Engineer: Roger Freret and Alexandre Moreira
Mixed by Roy Hendrickson at Avatar Studios NYC
Mastered by Scot Hull, Masterdisk
Photography: James Gavin (cover)
Photography: Guarim de Lorena
Video: Fuzo Productions
Liner Notes: James Gavin
Portugese Translation: Susan Pereira
CD Design: Mariano Gil
Reviews
Journey to Rio (Soundbrush – 1026) has a title with more than one meaning. Pinaist/composer ROGER DAVIDSONhas had a lifelong love affair with the music of Brazil, and has been composing tunes influenced by this attraction for most of his career. It was not until about two years ago that he finally had the opportunity to make a trip to Rio where he recorded this two-disc set of 28 original compositions with a stellar band of Brazilian musicians. Davidson, the players and his music found an easy, natural confluence, and the results are impressively cohesive. The musicians are Davidson on piano, Marcelo Martins on reeds, Gilmar Ferreira on trombone, Leonardo Amuendo on guitar, either Ney Conceiçao on electric bass or Sérgio Barrozo on acoustic bass, Rafael Barata or Paulo Braga on drums, and Marco Lobo on percussion. Davidson’s compositions have strong melodies that lend themselves to improvisation, and his musicians are adept at taking them to pleasurable places. Davidson’s Journey to Rio is a trip worth sharing. (www.soundbrush.com)
"Spirited Stuff," says Midwest Record
Spirited stuff" says Midwest Record
"ROGER DAVIDSON/Journey to Rio: We always look forward to a new Davidson release because you can palpably hear that honing his chops and expanding his vision is a never ending task that he doesn't look at a chore. When you own your own record company, you get the say so to put out a double album of your Brazilian fascinations as recorded in Rio with a bunch of top contemporary Brazilian cats making a joyful noise. Reminiscent in vibe to the pockets in Sergio Mendes' A&M albums where they would let him have a one-for-me track where he kept it real, except expanded to a double album, this is the kind of glorious set Scott Adams could devote a whole show to. Spirited stuff that keeps it's edge and never becomes tourist/gift shop music, it's real and inviting at the same time. Gringos, start your engines, Davidson has already done the work for you. Well done."
Tom Hull - On the Web
Notes from Tom Hull on Journey to Rio
The Latin Jazz Corner
Chip Boaz's review of Journey to Rio
Journey to Rio on Allmusic
Review by Matt Collar on allmusic.com
Critical Jazz
NotJustJazz's Four Star Review of Journey to Rio
Weekend Wax Bits
Samples
Below you can Play samples from the CD.
Journey to Rio
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O Jogo
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Summer Walk
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