From the press release:
A ground-breaking album that brings together five of Brazil’s most exceptional vocalists and forty of its finest musicians to reinterpret the most exceptional songs in the history of samba. A selection of new compositions make this a truly remarkable record that is set to establish itself as the must have international album of the year.
Jair Rodrigues
One of the most popular samba interpreters of all time, Jair presented the hugely successful TV show, O Fino Da Bossa, with the legendary Elis Regina. His popularity is ceaseless and most recently he has been co-starring in the internationally acclaimed stage show, Brasil Brasileiro. Sambistas is his 45th album.
Elza Soares
A living legend of samba. Married at 12, she bore her first child at 13 and in 1962, whilst representing Brazil at the 1962 World Cup, she met football demi-god Garrincha, whom she later married. After huge success in the 60’s, she hit hard times and was rediscovered in the 80’s by Brazilian rockers (Os Titãs, Lobão) and MPB artists like Caetano Veloso. Her life was depicted in the musical Crioula and in 2000, she was made Singer of the Millennium by the BBC. She tours incessantly and has been co-starring with Jair Rodrigues in Brasil Brasileiro.
Luciana Mello
After making her recording debut at the age of five, she went on to study ballet for ten years and she is now, at 28, one of Brazil’s rising musical stars. Her most recent solo album has sold more than 150,000 copies.
Jair Oliveira
Jair commenced his singing career with Balão Magico (The Magic Balloon), Brazil’s most successful children’s singing group. He then attended Berklee College of Music in Boston to study music production and has since built a reputation as a producer, songwriter and performer with five solo albums to his credit.
Seu Jorge
Seu Jorge gained international fame playing the role of Knockout Ned in City of God and troubadour in Wes Andersons’ Life Aquatic. Jorge has wowed the world with his typical carioca sensitivity, charm and exceptional song- writing skills. A true ambassador of samba.
Rildo Hora
Producer/arranger and the key man in making Sambistas happen in the studio. A legend in Brazil for the (literally) hundreds of samba records he has produced over the last four decades: Elis Regina, Elizete Cardoso, Beth Carvalho, Zeca Pagodinho, Jair Rodrigues, Elza Soares. His credits read like a who’s who of Brazilian music royalty.
Tom Leader
Engineer from the UK and the man charged with the task of ensuring we made a record that would seduce music lovers across the world. His multifarious credits include many engineering stints with the World Circuit label and associated projects such as Omara Portuondo and Ali Farka Touré.
The Musicians:
No less than forty of the absolute cream of Brazil’s samba musicians has played on this album. Between them they have played with all of the Brazilian greats of the last five decades.
They are: Fernando Merlino Carlinhos, Cláudio Jorge, Marcio Almeida, José Luiz Maia, Daniel Garcia, Dirceu Leite, Elias, Camilo Mariano, Vinicius Lugon, Vander Nascimento, Pretinho da Serrinha, Marcos Esguleba, Gordinho, Agostinho Santos, Marcilio Lopes, Patricia Hora, Jussara Lourenço, Rhychs, Marcello Furtado, Rogério Souza, Rodrigo, Rui Alvim, Roberto Marques, Gessiel, Edu Morelenbaum, David Ganc, Bernardo Bessler, José Alves, Antonela Pareschi, Daniel, Christine, Iura, Perrota, Jaguará, Beloba, Pisote, Alceu Maia.
