SUPERGENEROUS is pure aural pleasure” - Steve Graybow (Billboard.com)
“Cyro Baptista is truly one of the greatest musicians in the world…” –Wynton Marsalis
“[Supergenerous is] fun, intelligent, creative and absolutely fascinating” -Richard Anderson
What happens when three men, from completely different walks of life come together to make music?
What is the common thread of São Paulo, Kampala and Northern Canada? The answer is Supergenerous!
It’s members, Cyro Baptista, Kevin Breit and Ian DeSouza make up this trio for their second release entitled, São Paulo Slim.
Bad weather, conflicting studio dates and three different tour itineraries allowed the trio only one day to record São Paulo Slim in Toronto early December 2007. “The stars aligned and the snow plows were on our side”, commented guitarist, Breit. “Cyro and I had recorded our first disc seven years ago and to say we were excited for this would be a grand understatement.”
“Kevin and I wanted to bring aboard Ugandan, bassist, Ian DeSouza to round out the sound and give us an extra ingredient“, adds Baptista. “we were uncertain if we’d have enough time to fully complete the 13 tracks but somehow we pulled it together and had a blast in the process.” When asked, ‘how is this recording different than their first Blue Note release, Breit says, “well, the new one sounds more Brazilian to me than the first. The first was like an imaginary film soundtrack whereas São Paulo Slim has this story running through the material.” Baptista elaborates, “we had this idea that the characters start their journey in jail; they escape; they live a dream; then they realize that prison may have been a better option. Sounds like some fuzzy logic but they somehow retain their reason.”
The trio managed to bring Steve Earle’s, haunting ’I Ain’t Ever Satisfied’, to their story board when the jailbirds escape. We, the listener, can feel the empty cell with Earle’s words scrawled in the walls of the small room. Guest vocalist, Sue Patrick Breit sings the song with a tender conviction. Cassandra Wilson offers a beautiful reading of the traditional composition, ‘Home on the Range’. The dream of an America that once existed with its huge skies and wide open space is captured in this rendering.
The bulk of São Paulo Slim’s material, was penned by Breit and Baptista. ‘World Without Words’ and ‘Ms. Audrey Hepburn’, are respectful of the harmonic and melodic interplay, found in Brazilian music, while the string instrumentation, owe more to ‘western’ musical forms. ‘God Didn’t Make No Wal-Mart’, crosses musical borders freely with the help of tamboura, tabla, African ceramic drum, electric slide guitar and De Souza’s earthy, bass performance. “Cyro and Kevin and I, came up with ‘Embolada Atomica’ after a break”, remembers DeSouza. “John Bailey, the recording engineer, thankfully, had the record button on during this spontaneous piece.”
A burlesque romp, “Cut Your Toenails Baby (Cuz Your Rippin’ the Sheets)”, is played out with much humor but is soon underscored by a confrontation between the escaped convicts, escalating to the proclamation, ‘I’m going back to prison...gonna knock on the door and say, let me in. Let me in. I know my evil ways.’ “São Paulo Slim Rides Again”, is introduced by a reproduction of an old news ‘talkie’ found in a picture show house, pre-television era. It exalts the escape of public enemy number one, São Paulo Slim. The music conjures a chase scene of fast feet and moving locomotive.
“Pining For Fall”, contains many a detour and u-turn. The trio works seamlessly through the many moods of this composition, allowing for the title’s appropriateness. The Luis Carlos and Chico Feitosa song, “Ye-Me-Le”, is reworked with an intoxicating vocal by Baptista and re-harmonized treatment by Breit and DeSouza. The disc ends with two pieces from the smash 1969 classic film, “Midnight Cowboy”. Baptista and Breit would perform these pieces without fail during every performance while on tour. You can almost hear Harry Nilsson swooning on the final notes of “Everybody’s Talkin”.
Cyro Baptista / Percussion
Since moving to the US three decades ago, Cyro Baptista has crafted a career utilizing his sheer expertise of disparate rhythmic languages. Cyro Baptista has worked with such distinguished artists as Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Yo-Yo Ma, Caetano Veloso, Trey Anastasio, Laurie Anderson, Cassandra Wilson and many others. He was awarded the title of “2007 Percussionist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2005, he was nominated for a GRAMMY Award along with Herbie Hancock and Trey Anastasio for their writing collaboration on “Gelo Na Montanha,” a track on Hancock’s “Possibilities”. As Baptista has contributed to over 200 recordings, he has also appeared on GRAMMY Award-winning releases by Yo-Yo Ma, Cassandra Wilson, Herbie Hancock, The Chieftains, Ivan Lins and others. Cyro also has six releases of his own. His other projects include Beat The Donkey,The Banquet of the Spirits and Vira Loucos.
Kevin Breit / Guitars
Kevin Breit was the 2004 winner of the prestigious “Toronto Musician Of The Year” award. Kevin’s tremendous ability on all things stringed, combined with his knowledge of harmony, give him a unique compositional voice. Among the varied artists that seek his innovative guitar style are Norah Jones, Bill Frisell, k.d. lang, Cassandra Wilson, Holly Cole, Rosanne Cash, Amos Lee, Susana Baca, Janis Ian, Jeb Loy Nichols, Dal Bello, Marc Jordan and Quartette. With the Sisters Euclid, one of his projects, he has recorded six CDs, one of which, “Run Neil Run” was awarded a JUNO . Kevin also won a 2007 GEMINI Award for his tribute to Joni MItchell. He was one of Norah Jones’ “Handsome Band” member and his song “Humble Me” is featured on her album “Feels Like Home”.
obrigado for the add,eu que gosto de blues e musica brasileira, aqui achei minha praia Morando na franca,eu nao consigue encontrar o seu disco Posso comprar no net? Parabens pra voces e boa sorte
