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 Saturday, 20 March 2010 |
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The Nilson Matta Trio: Samba Meets Jazz at the Kitano Hotel, NY 9/18-19 |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Monday, 14 September 2009 |
“Nilson Matta is a powerhouse bass player” – Down Beat Nilson Matta
The Kitano in New York presents Samba Meets Jazz with the Nilson Matta Trio on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th. The trio features Nilson on bass with Bill Mays on piano and Alvester Garnett on drums. Nilson Matta has long been considered one of Brazil’s best bass players. While in Brazil he played with such top artists as João Gilberto, Hermeto Pascoal, Chico Buarque de Holanda, Nana Caymmi, João Bosco, Johnny Alf, Nivaldo Ornellas, MPB-4, Helio Delmiro, Luis Bonfa, and many others. With deep roots in jazz, gospel, pop and classical music, Bill Mays' eclectic, prolific career as pianist, composer and arranger spans five decades. On hundreds of recordings, TV and movie soundtracks, Bill's concert and studio credits include a who's who of modern music, from Benny Golson to Gerry Mulligan to Sarah Vaughan to Frank Zappa.
In 1983 Nilson was invited to Japan to perform with singer Lisa Ono. Together they spent a year promoting Brazilian music. While with drummer Pascoal Meirelles in 1984, Nilson founded the fusion band “Cama De Gato.”
Nilson moved to New York City in 1985. Since that time he has performed and recorded with such renowned artists as Joe Henderson, Paquito D’Rivera, Slide Hampton, Herbie Mann, Mark Murphy, Oscar Castro Neves, Don Friedman, Paul Winter, Claudio Roditi, Gato Barbieri, Yo Yo Ma, Kenny Barron and many others. Five years after his move to the States, he co-founded an extraordinary quintet – The African Brazilian Connection with pianist Don Pullen. This group released three critically acclaimed CDs for Blue Note Records: Kele Mou Bana, Ode to Life and Live at Montreux Jazz Festival.
In 1993 Nilson returned to Brazil to record the CD, “The Magic” with the great composer and guitarist Luis Bonfa. Along with fellow Brazilians, Romero Lubambo and Duduka da Fonseca, Nilson founded Trio da Paz: one of the foremost Brazilian Jazz groups in the world. The trio has recorded five CDs; Brazil from the Inside, Black Orpheus, Partido Out, Café and Somewhere. Their third release, Partido Out, won the Jazz Journalists Association Award for “The Best Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year in 2002.
From 1995 till 1998, Matta worked extensively with four time Grammy Award winning saxophonist Joe Henderson, recording on the Grammy award winning 1997 “Joe Henderson Big Band” (Verve Records). A few years later, he recorded his first record as a leader, “Encontros” (2000). Included on this CD was harmonica player Hendrik Murkens. Nilson recorded a CD “Canta Brasil” and toured in Europe and USA with jazz pianist Kenny Barron.
In 2003 and 2004 he recorded 2 CDs with the virtuoso cellist Yo Yo Ma “Obrigado Brasil” which won a Grammy award in 2003 and “Live at Zankel Hall” (Carnegie Hall) which won a Grammy award in 2004.
Nilson performed on Nancy Wilson’s CD Turned to Blue for MCG Jazz and with tenor sax player George Garzone for Venus Records in Japan.
In September 2006, Nilson Matta released a CD for Blue Toucan Music, Walking With My Bass. It’s an autobiography project with a wide range of guests. Among them are Joao Bosco, Ivan Lins, Kenny Barron, Harry Allen, Rosa Passos, Robertinho Silva, Mauricio Einhorn, Joyce, Helio Alves and others.
The Kitano is located at 68 Park Ave. @ 38th Street NYC. For reservations call 212 885 7119 or visit www.kitano.com |
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