Urban Jungle mixes BPM and electronica
Roberto Menescal, Andréa Marquee, Bossa Cuca Nova and Simone Moreno appear in BMP Vol.1, debut release by the French/Brazilian label that presents contemporary versions of Baden Powell and Dorival Caymmi compositions.
Carlos Calado
18/10/2000
Created in 2000 by French/Brazilian producer André Bourgeois and Brazilian bassist/producer Geisan Varne, the new label intends to explore common grounds between Brazilian music and the new urban music trends.
"It isn’t an electronic album. BPM Vol.1 is a modern Brazilian popular music album", defines Bourgeois, who’s lived most of his 29 years between Switzerland and France, where he was born from a Brazilian mom. "Each track comes with a different proposal for the mix. I reckon Brazil has a lot to offer to contemporary music", claims the producer, who also says he misses Brazilian beats on the dance floors.
The 13 tracks on BPM Vol.1 (Next Brazilian Vibe) were recorded in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador between January and June. Brazilian musicians from different backgrounds contributed to the project. Bossa nova master Roberto Menescal appears on the track Oxalá #1, homage to João Gilberto and saxophonist Stan Getz, with vocals by Edmon Costa and a bossa/jungle approach. Andréa Marquee and the Bossa Cuca Nova DJs meet on the trip hop version of É Preciso Perdoar. Singer Simone Moreno, from Bahia, appears in Ribanceira with percussionists Leo BitBit, Gustavo de Dalva and Boghan.
A few Brazilian standards also deserved updated versions, like the afro-samba Canto de Ossanha (Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes), which comes in a Latin, acid jazz package. Dorival Caymmi’s História de Pescadores was turned into a samba/jungle.
"It wasn’t easy to bring all the musicians together. Major labels are not keen on having their cast members playing different styles", notes the French/Brazilian producer, who moved to São Paulo in the beginning of the year. Bourgeois also reveals that BPM Vol.2 is under way. For the next album, 10 DJs will be invited to work with typical Brazilian beats like frevo, maracatu and forró. "The DJs are going to record in studio with real drum sets. It’s not gonna be a remix CD", he says, hoping to release Vol.2 by the end of 2000. "Our next step is to release the albums in Europe and USA. I expect it to become a movement. There are lots of people working with the same elements."
"It isn’t an electronic album. BPM Vol.1 is a modern Brazilian popular music album", defines Bourgeois, who’s lived most of his 29 years between Switzerland and France, where he was born from a Brazilian mom. "Each track comes with a different proposal for the mix. I reckon Brazil has a lot to offer to contemporary music", claims the producer, who also says he misses Brazilian beats on the dance floors.
The 13 tracks on BPM Vol.1 (Next Brazilian Vibe) were recorded in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador between January and June. Brazilian musicians from different backgrounds contributed to the project. Bossa nova master Roberto Menescal appears on the track Oxalá #1, homage to João Gilberto and saxophonist Stan Getz, with vocals by Edmon Costa and a bossa/jungle approach. Andréa Marquee and the Bossa Cuca Nova DJs meet on the trip hop version of É Preciso Perdoar. Singer Simone Moreno, from Bahia, appears in Ribanceira with percussionists Leo BitBit, Gustavo de Dalva and Boghan.
A few Brazilian standards also deserved updated versions, like the afro-samba Canto de Ossanha (Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes), which comes in a Latin, acid jazz package. Dorival Caymmi’s História de Pescadores was turned into a samba/jungle.
"It wasn’t easy to bring all the musicians together. Major labels are not keen on having their cast members playing different styles", notes the French/Brazilian producer, who moved to São Paulo in the beginning of the year. Bourgeois also reveals that BPM Vol.2 is under way. For the next album, 10 DJs will be invited to work with typical Brazilian beats like frevo, maracatu and forró. "The DJs are going to record in studio with real drum sets. It’s not gonna be a remix CD", he says, hoping to release Vol.2 by the end of 2000. "Our next step is to release the albums in Europe and USA. I expect it to become a movement. There are lots of people working with the same elements."