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Jazz Brazil

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Torben Westergaard

Label: TWMUSIC
Released: 2022
Duration: 00:44:41
Views: 1,211

Tracks

Summer Song; Golden; Christmas Black; Frevo; Seven; Bli' Min; Samba Optimista; Tomorrow Knows; Sambartido.

Personnel

Additional Personnel / Information

Rogério Boccato: percussion (1, 2, 5, 7, 9).

Album Description

Why is Brazilian Music So Attractive to Jazz Players?

The story behind Torben Westergaard’s Jazz Brazil

Luckily, I have had the great fortune to be near Brazilian popular music for almost forty years of my musical life as a professional musician.

The journey started at around age 20 on a Vallekilde summer course with pianist Guilherme Vergueiro as a teacher. After that, I moved on to music school in Los Angeles in 1984, where I briefly joined a band led by percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, and in the mideighties, I went to Brazil for the first time to tour with drummer Magno Bissoli.

Later, moving to New York, where I spent close to six years, I luckily got to play a lot with the great Portinho on drums, including recording my second release, Brazilian Heart. And in addition to that Dom Um Romao, Romeo Lubambo, Manfredo Fest, Hermeto Pascoal, Helio Alves, and auditioned for pianist Tania Maria’s band.

Later, when I returned to Denmark, the Brazilian adventure continued with the great singer Silvana Malta and drummer Afonso Corrêa. In addition, we had great luck having legendary percussionist Airto Moreira and guitarist Toninho Horta as guests on a few tours through her band.

Concerning Helio Alves, who is visiting for the upcoming tour and played on the recording of Jazz Brazil in April 2022, he and I have spent a lot of time together touring with german harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens. Therefore I am delighted to reunite with him again for this special occasion!

The same goes for dear old friends Hans Ulrik, sax, and Jonas Johansen, drums. I have known and played with these brilliant musicians on and off since the late and early eighties.

And why is Brazilian music so compatible and attractive to jazz players?

Because it contains a very sophisticated approach to harmonies and rhythms like jazz.

Please check out the new release or come and hear us play on the upcoming tour, and we will do our humble best to demonstrate this aspect for you!