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SILVANA MALTA AND FRANS BAK : BOSSA NUTS
Stunt Records STUCD 04052 2004
SONGS
1. Fim de nós Dois 5:08 - featured song
2. Agga 4:46
3. Disse-Que-Disse 3:33 -featured song
4. Amor Sem Fim 3:50
5. Brasileirice 3:24 - featured song
6. De Volta Ao Começo 5:51
7. Sei Lá 3:56
8. Eu Sou Mais Eu 4:04
9. Amor De Gabriela 3:24
10. Meu Camihar 3:24
11. Balada Triste 4:34
Lyrics by Silvana Malta. Music by Frans Bak
MUSICIANS
Silvana Malta, Christina Von Bülov, Poul Halberg, Frans Bak, Mads Winding, Jacob Andersen, Portinh
REVIEW By Boris Rabinowitsch
"One can definitely not reproach Bak that the spirit of Jobim is resting over the music, because better inspiration is hard to find. Frans Bak is one of our most productive composers, who goes from one order to the next. But every once in a while, he takes the time to follow his heart and let his ideas become melodies, preferably of the bossa nova kind. In some of them, eleven in all, the local Brazilian singer Silvana Malta has written the lyrics, and with a team composing of Christina von Bülow on alto saxophone, Poul Halberg on guitar, Mads Vinding on bass, Portinho on drums, Jacob Andersen on percussion and Bak himself on Piano, she has recorded a CD which, among other things, distinguishes itself with its airy disposition and unforced musicality.
One can definitely not reproach Bak that the spirit of Jobim is resting over the music, because better inspiration is hard to find. The crucial thing is that Bak has managed to use it so well. For example in the small melodic and harmonic twists, which surprise you with their craftiness, and at the same time seem perfectly logical. Both in the cheerful songs, which dominate the CD, and in the more elegiacal songs like “Agga”, “De Volta Ao Começo” and “Balada Triste”. Also, Bak’s sparse piano playing reminds one of Jobim’s own, and, together with the other musicians, forms a brilliant surrounding for Silvana Malta’s beautiful narrative singing."
REVIEW By Peter Rabek, Jazz Special no. 76, 2004
"The composer and pianist Frans Bak has proven that he can pull good, emotional tunes out of his sleeve. And here he has worked with a handful ”Brazilian” emotions, to which the local Silvana Malta has given both her voice and the Portuguese lyrics. The contents of which I have a hard time judging, but the language reeks of the fragile poetry we are so familiar with from that part of the world, and Bak’s music matches. Pure acoustic, layered, clarified, airy and beautiful art.
Silvana Malta sings with a grown woman’s dignified frailty, and behind her it is not only Frans Bak on piano, but also a team of solid ”Tordenskjold’s Soldiers” and Christina von Bülow on a moody sax, where Stan Getz respectfully jokes in the background, exactly as it should be – and is. And then consider the effort of the Brazilian drummer Portinho, whose rhythms have the wonderful round drive which is part of the genre. It is nice to hear Poul Halberg in a non-rock connection. It is nice to enjoy Jacob Andersen’s gentle percussion-piquancy and Mads Vinding’s mild, flexible figure on the contrabass. According to Frans Bak himself, a phenomenal lineup. Yep, we agree. All conditions are met. But we won’t get any sparkling discharges on this disc. It sticks with the summer emotions and good intentions that can now be mobilized in the cold, wet Danish winter.
So it is up to one’s self to perfect it with a Piña Colada, ornamental berries and some casual sex in the back yard. My tip is that this music too should be experienced live. And it should preferably be very hot at the time. Till then, Frans Bak will probably have created another handful of melodies of the kind you wish you could have written yourself."
REVIEW By Martin Blom Hansen, Djambe no. 49, 2004
"Bossa. Jazz. Denmark. Brazil. The local Brazilian singer Silvana Malta’s previous album was ’Flor do Verão’ with DR Big Band – an exciting blend of big band jazz and Brazilian musical tradition. Now it’s time for the meeting of bossa nova and Danish jazz’ melodious ”jack of all trades”, Frans Bak. ’Bossa Nuts’ is a lot like Frans Bak’s excellent and very Scandinavian ’Natsange’ from 1999, with Josephine Cronholm on vocals.
On ’Bossa Nuts’, the scenario has been moved to Brazil with good use of bossa nova jazz’ both colorful and melancholy expressions. At the same time, a number of the songs contain elements of the European composing tradition, of which Frans Bak is an expert. Silvana Malta is brilliant, and the Brazilian drummer Portinho together with a strong team of Danish musicians make sure that the level is kept high. ’Bossa Nuts’ is a consistent and finely tuned record, but surprises and goose bumps are lacking."