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Europe Jazz Network
MUSICIANS
JOÃO BOSCO
more info: www.joaobosco.com.br
| Ancient churches, narrow streets, old attics and mountains, and vivid
memories of African slaves, all travel through the renaissance vein shared
by all the artists from Minas Gerais, state in the center of Brazil, the
cradle of many creative and revolutionary geniuses of Brazilian popular
music. In this colonial scenery, built over gold and blood stories of hatred
and courage, was João Bosco born. In the small town of Ponte Nova,
confined, hidden among the mineral mountains of Minas Gerai, he spent his
childhood, surrounded by accordions, the local band, the radio singers
and church litanies. Music has always been present in his family. Piano,
lyrics and violin were part of the household routine. At the age of 12
he was given his first guitar, a green one, and proceeded to divide his
joys between soccer and swing of his first own rock band.
Some years later, João Bosco traveled to Ouro Preto aiming to unravel the arts of engeneering and discovered that he was irrevocably attracted to "bossa nova", "tropicalism" and "jazz". His attention was drawn to João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Ray Charles, Mingus, Coltrane, Milton Nascimento, among many other great musicians and innovators who day by day widen the universe of music. It was at that time that he met the great poet Vinicius de Moraes, and with him formed his first and illustrious partnership. By 1972, he made his debut in the recording universe (pocket record - Pasquim) with Tom Jobim, from whom he received considerable praise: "João, eh? Your music has already crossed over the stream...". In 1973, already a Bachelor in Civil Engeneering, he came to Rio de Janeiro to start a new life. João Bosco appeared in the Brazialian Popular Music scenery in a difficult period of the Brazilian history. Together with the lyricist Aldir Blanc, they resisted the political nightmare of the 70's without fear, with a critical look and challenging voice. Elis Regina, who for many years was to be main interpreter of this melodies, transformed dozens of songs into unforgetable events. The 80's found João Bosco restless. The artist researched rhythms and strange sonorities, looking for the new and the revolutionary. He prefered the "slack rope" to the stability of the well known. His mark became notorius in a personal and vigorous style, born from a perfect union between his voice, his composition and his guitar. The '90s find João Bosco full of temptations. Free, loose, he has unitied the conventional nots and given vent to his imagination. João Bosco is shamelessly reiventing Brazilian popular music, ling up new rhythmical forms, searching for melodic horizons, metamorphosing harmonies, making poetry out of reality with unmatched sonority and dignity, singing without any fear. Biography courtesy of Saudades Tourneen. |