The latest album by Brazilian cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, Flowers of the Millenniumhave an unmistakable aroma of samba in a broad sense to which the freshness of improvisation is added, but he warns us that “this spirit does not approach jazz, but rather highlights the richness that samba possesses, our idea is to expand its boundaries ”, Morelenbaum pointed out. while chatting on the phone Clarion.

“I don’t see it as jazz; it is improvised music among Brazilian musicians and although jazz is an influence for all of us, basically what we do is play our music freely“, He says.

And he continues: “Improvisation defines us in a dialogue and always gives freshness to the music”, says the cellist, composer and producer, who It will air on Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13. (in double function), on Bebop with his CelloSam3aTrio, with Lula Galvao on guitar and Paulo Braga on percussion.

played the greatest

Affable and with a unique carioca warmth, Morelenbaum (67) already feels the warmth given to him by the Argentine public.

“It was very exciting for me to play in Buenos Aires; it is an audience that has always distinguished me with its affection ”, said the musician who came to perform flowers of the millenniumsecond album with Cello Sam3aTrio, launched in March, in Brazil.

An album of captivating freshness with the arrangements of a simple distinctive musical note by this artist who worked with Tom Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins Y gal coastAmong others.

flowers of the millennium This is his second album after 18 years of release CelloSam3aTriothe first album of this combo and also presented in Buenos Aires.

-How was Flor do Milenio born?

-I really want to record after all the isolation we live in because of the pandemic. I was so excited to be with my music partners in person. However, I don’t think of an album like the one that ended up coming out.

At first, I wanted to make an album with compositions by artists focused on politics, for example, Boy Buarque. A disk with the address, a political view of Brazil and the situation happening in this far -right government that the first thing he did was terminate the Ministry of Culture and attack artists and technicians related to culture.

-And what happened?

-The company asked me to make the author’s album, with original music and I devoted myself to working in that direction. saved from oblivion Flowers of the Millenniuma composition he saved and premiered in 1986. A theme written for a play, I forgot. It gave me the pleasure to deliver it and arrange it for the trio and I liked the result so I named the album after that theme.

The extent of samba

Morelenbaum speaks of his music as samba in the broadest sense and with an intention to continue to expand the boundaries of Brazilian music, but with cello as main voice.

“That’s just the Cello Sam3aTrio, giving a lot of space to my own voice, which is the cello. In this group I was free to develop my compositions and my taste for improvisation with Galvao and Barata (who could not be in Buenos Aires because he had a job in New York) although Braga, one of the great percussionists, was at these shows. that Brazil has ”, added the musician.

As for the album that he will present, he pointed out that he will only do compositions. “I’m not going to do the whole album, it’s some songs from Flowers of the Millennium and some other music ”, he added, probably because the album moves on two planes. On the one hand, the songs produced by the trio and on the other hand, the trio included piano, double bass and saxophone contributions.

Flowers of the Millennium has particularity, the collaboration of three great masters as pianist Cristovao Bastos, double bass player Zeca Assumpcao and flutist and saxophonist Carlos Malta. “I’ve played them many times with all three of them and they are musicians who have made a very important contribution to this album”, the cellist acknowledged that even Choro, Chuva and Cello (cello) this is a theme of Wands.

Although the album has an author’s tone, there are two versions left from his album’s first project, which are political in tone, You do not know how to lovefrom Dorival Caymmi Y despite youby Chico Buarque.

-Sometimes Flor de Milenio seems jazzy, for example, at Casa BrancaBrinCaDeira and Nesse Trem Que Eu Vou.

-My music aims to expand the boundaries of samba and no, I don’t see it as jazz; rather, it is music made by Brazilian musicians and although jazz is an influence for all of us, there is no sense of jazz approach; Improvisation doesn’t bring us close to jazz, what we do is freely play our music, Brazilian music.

Regarding his projects, Morelenbaum has a busy agenda for the first half of the year. He is currently working on music for Brazilian director Marcelo Gomes ’next film.

In July, he will travel to Europe to participate in three interesting projects; on the one hand, a tour with CelloSam3aTrio with singer Paula Morelenbaum as a special guest.

He will also perform with the duo of Australian pianist Sarah McKenzie and renowned Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo, both based in New York and finally, he will perform with Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu and bandoneonist Daniel Boaventura, in album presentation. P60lo Fr3sureleased by trumpeter in 2021.

Information

Jaques Morelenbaum with CelloSam3aTrio will perform on Thursday, May 12, at 8:00 pm and Friday, May 13, at 8:00 pm and 10:30 pm, at Bebop, Uriarte 1658. Tickets 3,800 at https : bebop.club. online

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