As a teenager I discovered Brazil studying Villa Lobos's
music, along with Baden Powell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de
Moraes, Choros, Sambas, but also through literature:
Flávio Moreira da Costa, Jorge Amado, Holdemar Menezes among many
others.
Villa Lobos was like a "barefoot Mozart" to me. He traveled all
across this beautiful and rich country to create a unique musical
style rooted into the wide musical streams; from Rio de Janeiro to
the Rain Forest.
He had a lot of "non-intellectual" ways to compose - what he used to
call the Natural way - and new approaches to the different
instruments he composed for.
Like Gershwin, he was not a guy from a rich family, playing guitar
in bars and in the streets to make money. He used to tell a lot of
stories about his travels in the Rain Forest, about cannibals
chasing him and other funny things… His work encompasses a good dose
of humor and a constant search for Brazil's music soul.
Brazil became a dream and imagine my emotions, when for the first
time, I toured there in 1998.
It was the first of many tours and a life experience in which
learning the language, making friends and collaborating with several
artists made Brazil my second country.
In 2000 the meeting with the great Bossa Nova singer Denise Pinaud
gave birth to a duet. Mixing our different languages, we toured
intensely, played on TV shows and eventually recorded this CD in Rio
de Janeiro.
Join us for an Imaginary Travel, from the Choros to the Voodoo
Music.
Saravah!
Philippe, June 2009.
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"Guitaristic
Wizardry...Michael Hedges spirit lives on between the hearts, hands,
wood and steel of standard bearers like Bertaud... Philippe is
easily that good." - Montreal Jazz festival review by Michael Fagien
/ JAZZIZ magazine
"Rich musical imagination. . .astonishing
virtuosity. . . dazzling technique. . . Philippe Bertaud is the New
Lord of the Srings!" Don Heckman / Los Angeles Times
"Philippe Bertaud is an artist of true
communication and his performances not only offer the audience a
superior quality concert, but also, manage to envelope them in his
music." - Euro-San Francisco
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