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German Bense
About Me
1963 - German Bense was born in Montevideo, Uruguay
1977 - Begun piano and theory studies at the “Instituto Kölischer” (until
1979).
1979 - Begun guitar and bass studies at the “Centro Musical Moderno”
with the master Juan Lamas.
Performs as guitarist in a bossa nova band that won the Uruguayan TV
Conquest “Estudiantina”.
1981 - Performs in a dixieland band called “Luisiana Jazz Band”.
1982 - Begun his professional musician career performing guitar and
bass guitar in Montevideo's night clubs. Wrote his first own songs that
year. 1983 - Performs in a brazilian music band called “Turbilhao” that
play the whole year in differents Montevideo's night clubs.
1984 - Won the “Revelation Award” in the “Festival de La Paz”,
Canelones, Uruguay (Uruguayan Popular Music).
1985 - Begun an ininterrupted activity at differents Montevideo's clubs
(until 1995). The highlighted appareances of that period are the
followings:
-Guitarist, bassist and singer at “Clave de Fu”, a legendary Montevideo's
brazilian music night club. Integrates the “Fernado Torrado trio” (Clave
de Fu owner) and co-write many songs with him (songs that are included
in the Fernando Torrado's discography)
-1986: Bass guitarist and arranger of the Mario “Chichito” Cabral band,
mythical Uruguayan percussonist and composer.
-Between 1992 and 1995 share with the Uruguayan singer Liese Lange a
duo called “Bossa Nostra”, since today remembered as a Montevideo
music classic.
1989 - Record and publish his first album, “Despues de todo”, shared
with the songwriter Jorge Alastra (Perro Andaluz Records).
1990 - Record and publish his second album called “Quimera” (Perro
Andaluz Records).
1991 - Make a gigs series in wich he invites to share the scene others
songwriters of his generation. They are: Claudio Taddei and Rossana
Taddei, Jorge Alastra, Liese Lange and Jorge Drexler (who 14 years later
won the “Oscar Award”)
1995 - Stop his musician professional activity for personal resons until
the year 2000. 2000 - Inagurtes his first Internet music site at “mp3.com”
2001 - Record and publish his 3rd album (his first whole bossa nova
album) called “Opus Bossa Nova” (Mp3.com Records).
2002 - Record and publish a new bossa nova album called “Desafinados
como eu” (Mp3.com Records). December
2002: his songs “Barco sin puerto” and “A dream that to fullfil” reach the
..1 in the mp3.com bossa nova and jazz charts. Return to the live
performances in Uruguay.
2004 - His song “Desafinados como Eu” is included in the music band of
the film “Falling”, by the New York independent Producer and Director
Clayton Allys.
2005 - Record and Publish his new bossa nova CD “Love Song in Vain”
(Perro Andaluz Records).
2006: German Bense is invited to participate in the “2do Encuentro de
Bossanovaenargentina” (unique event of these characteristics in the
world made in Buenos Aires, Argentina), sharing the scene with
Argentinian and Brazilian musicians and composers. He performs on 9
of April of 2006.
2007 - In July German Bense presents his show again in Buenos Aires,
in the “Club Lounge Buenos Aires” and in the “Centro Cultural del Sur”,
as part of the “3er Encuentro de Bossa Nova en Argentina”.
Also in this year, the Bense's song “The lack of love” is included in the
soundtrack of the film “Butterfiles in the wind”, by the US independent
producer and director Vic Alexander. The premiere of that film was on
September 29 in the “Ava Gardner Film Festival”, Smithfield, North
Carolina.
In December 2007 Bense participates in the 3rd edition of the “Festival
Internacional Mardelbossa” (Mar del Plata, Argentina), in where he
shares the scene with outstanding Argentinian and Brazilian musicians.
2008 - The Venezuelan singer Indira Briceño record his old song “Barco
sin puerto”
In September 2008 the artist perform in the “1ro Festival de Musica
Popular Brasileña de Montevideo”, and in October of the same year
performs in the “IV Festival de Bossa Nova en Argentina”, Buenos Aires.
In Dezember 2008 German Bense do his first and historic live convert
trough Internet in his channel BOSSANOVALIVE
2009 represents a pivotal year in German Bense's career. In July, the
composer performed with great success his first ARTISTIC TOUR IN
BRAZIL featuring his own bossa nova compositions for the first time in
Rio de Janeiro.
In October he performs again in Buenos Aires, in the “V Festival de
Bossa Nova en Argentina”.
And throughout 2009 and 2010, Bense continues his live online concert
series through Internet ( WWW.JUSTIN.TV/BOSSANOVALIVE ).A
pioneer in this kind of disclosure, Bense consolidates in this
unprecedented and direct way, an adept public from all over the world
where bossa nova is liked, achieving in this way, “to entry” the house of
his own audience weekly
2011 - German Bense makes in october his second Rio de Janeiro tour
with great sucess performing in the mithycal Ipanema's “Vinicius Bar”
and in “Forte de Copacabana”
THE BOSSA NOVA AND GERMAN BENSE
Editor's review at Download.com
“Brazilian rhythms and vocal harmonies are performed with dexterity and
passion by German Bense. A fabulous memento of Stan Getz's
bossified era, the music faithfully imparts a sense of nostalgia, while
retaining the unique blend of its Afro-Uruguayan style.”
Lance-K at “Gods of Music”
“...It has just enough off intonation in the male vocal line to remind one of
the earnest offerings of Astrud Gilberto or her ex Giao (Joao Gilberto),
and in a sense recalls the American Michael Franks with respect to
smooth whisper quality. Overall excellent smooth jazz bossa nova
worthy of any mellow cafe gathering or romantic mood...”
Ed Drurry at RandomArtist
“...The combination of precise guitar, accoustic piano and poetic lyrics
takes the listener to that special place which one only visits (if they are
lucky enough) oncein a life time...”
Justin Stone at “Gods of Music”
“...The chord progessions are so smooth and the vocals are very warm
and relaxing. Much like a solo serenade for you and your loved one as
you travel the sites and sounds of a lost getaway. Nobody but you,y our
girl, and a soft voice keeping the mood “just right”...”
