Nós Daqui

Brazil has one of the richest musical traditions in the world. In particular, the music which emerged from the city of Rio de Janeiro in the mid-twentieth century and was born of the confluence of the many different African, European and Indigenous cultures represented in Brazil, is unique in the world for its powerful blend of infectious rhythms, sophisticated compositional elements and a profoundly poetic and philosophical songwriting tradition. Though forged from the uniquely Brazilian national identity and culture, this music- like its cousin Jazz, which evolved from similar roots- holds a universal appeal and is recognized as an invaluable contribution to world culture. It is this universal quality which, no doubt, attracted the musicians of Nós Daqui to Brazilian music. The instrumental core of Nós Daqui (literally “we from here”) is comprised of four North-American Jazz musicians who have each dedicated a significant portion of their musical lives to the study and performance of “Música Brasileira.” Flautist/saxophonist Paul Lieberman (www.paullieberman.net) toured extensively with Brazilian Jazz legends Airto and Flora Purim and lived in Rio de Janeiro from 1985-89, where he became Brazil’s first call studio reed player, recording and performing with stars such as Simone, Chico Buarque, Djavan, Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta, Alcione, Joao Bosco, Miucha, along with a veritable Who’s Who of Brazil’s top instrumental artists, including Hermeto Pascoal, Cesar Camargo Mariano, and many, many others. Keyboardist Mike Eckroth (www.mikeeckroth.com) has studied with Jovino Santos Neto, keyboardist for multi-instrumentalist and Brazilian Jazz pioneer Hermeto Pascoal and has made over 10 trips to Brazil, where he has recorded with some of the top musicians in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, including well known drummer Nenen, 2005 Best Instrumental CD winner Magno Alexandre and internationally acclaimed classical guitarist Alieksey Vianna. Guitarist Jason Ennis (www.jasonennis.com) has spent extended periods of time living in Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, has played in numerous Brazilian music groups and specializes in the seven string classical guitar, or violão de sete cordas, typical of samba and choro music. Drummer Conor Meehan (www.conormeehan.com) is not only well versed at playing a wide range of Brazilian styles on drumset, but is also a skilled and innovative player of the pandeiro, the uniquely Brazilian hand drum which is the driving force behind many Brazilian traditional styles. An extra touch of authenticity is added when the group is joined by vocalist Zaida Lieberman, a native of Rio de Janeiro with years of experience of singing and producing in the nightclubs, concert venues, and recording studios of Rio with some of Brazil’s finest musicians. In the hands of these fine jazz musicians, the music is inflected with elements of the blues and bebop and is performed with the improvisational fluidity of small-group Jazz. The repertoire draws on the works of some of Brazil’s finest composers and songwriters, including Pixinguinha, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque, Edu Lobo, Jacob do Bandolim, João Bosco, Toninho Horta, Guinga, Hermeto Pascoal, Mauricio Einhorn, Djavan, João Donato and many others.For booking and more information, please contact: Jason Ennis www.jasonennis.com [email protected]