The Roger Davidson Trio – Bom Dia – Soundbrush Records

by | May 7, 2008 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

The Roger Davidson Trio – Bom Dia – Soundbrush Records SA 1013 *****:

(Roger Davidson, piano; David Finck, bass; Paul Braga, drums; guest percussionist: Marivaldo dos Santos)

It appears that bossa nova is back in this country, and many performers are breathing new life into the familiar tunes originally introduced in the U.S. by Charlie Byrd, Bud Shank, Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto and others. Small-group Brazilian jazz mixed the pulsing samba rhythms with cool jazz and resulted in many milestone albums, of which the most famous was Getz’ Jazz Samba. 

There have been some great new bossa nova vocal albums, but this is the first bossa nova piano trio instrumental effort I’ve heard.  And every one of the tunes is an original – not the same old numbers. Roger Davidson became familiar with bossa nova as a boy in New York.  He is a versatile classical composer and was leader of a chamber orchestra.  He’s always had a special place for Latin music in general, and especially for the folk culture that has produced the world’s most bewitching tunes – Brazil.  Hence this new album.  Bom Dia means “Good Day” in Portuguese.

Davidson uses two sidemen who joined him a few years back on a CD titled Rodgers in Rio. Paulo Braga is a top Brazilian drummer, and the tasteful percussion work of Marivaldo dos Santos from Bahia, adds even more authenticity to some of the 11 tracks. Davidson’s tunes are a delight – they capture the relaxing sway of bossa nova and contribute fresh new melodic ideas to the mix. With a French mother and having been born in Paris, he finds he sometimes thinks of tune titles in French – hence the track Soir Bresilien. 

Sonics are excellent, the drums and percussion are tasteful, not overbearing, and cleanly reproduced.  Davidson’s tunes are varied and interesting; they don’t fall into the one-note samba bag.  A winning CD – as colorful as its front cover!

TrackList:  Fabiana, Soir Bresilien, Bom Dia, Tristezas do Amor, Eu Sinto Saudade Dela, Ela Me Ama, Contemplacao, Samba para Minhas Criancas, Patient Soul, I Remember Your Smile, Abia

 – John Henry 

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