The Big Bossa

"The Big Bossa" is a fun project playing the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, who is known affectionately to the people of Brazil simply as "Tom".  The eight of us will share in the beautiful songs that Tom was responsible for creating over the course of his lifetime.. 

The composer Jobim has had an enormous influence on the shape and direction of jazz music since the late 50's beginning with the broader exposure of his compositions from  the first recordings of Joao Gilberto (Chega De Saudade) in 1958 and the musical 'Black Orpheus' in 1959.. Stan Getz was one of the first american jazz musicians to get involved in a serious way with Jobim's repertoire, but the list of those having done so is long.. Frank Sinatra in the late 60's at the height of his career, did a full album focusing on the songs of Jobim (with Jobim on guitar) and Ella Fitzgerald followed later in the 70's with a similar focus on Jobims songs... it goes without saying that when 2 premier singers in jazz decide to focus on a particular songwriter, the material must be of exceptional relevance to those in the jazz community and beyond..Of note Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto won a grammy award for best album of the year Getz/Gilberto in 1965 playing the music of Jobim which has not been repeated in the 'jazz genre' until this last year 2008 with Herbie Hancocks album "The Joni Letters' honouring another great songwriter Joni Mitchell..
 
I am planning on discussing some of these aspects of Jobims music in the performance as i feel they are of educational value and help those listening appreciate the context along with enjoying the music in itself..

Bob Blumenthal writing the liner notes for the Jobim release of "Urubu" quotes Jobim:

"Bossa is a hunch?" Antonio Carlos Jobim offered, searching for the proper English equivalent to the Portuguese, when I met the great composer in New York in 1987. For a moment, he seemed at an impasse; but, as it turned out, he had the image of a hunchback in mind (Corcovado, the mountain that inspired one of Jobim's masterpieces, means hunchback). "The 'bossa' in bossa nova does not simply mean 'boss' in the English slang sense," he continued. "It is also a protuberance, a swelling in the head, an increase of brain matter. In Brazil, we say that a guy has bossa for something, as in 'John has bossa for music' - a flair, a gift, what you might call soul. Bossa nova was the new flair, our new wave."

A quote from the book "The Brazilian Sound" -

Tom was developing his own innovations in regard to Brazilian popular music, adding new twists to the venerable samba and creating a sound that was all his own. He said to us, "I had those new harmonies coming from me only. I was always revolting against the establishment, against normal harmonies. It was a very personal thing. Sure I heard Debussy and Ravel, but they didn't have this African beat we have here."

"Band brings Brazilian influence to city"

Walter Cordery Nanaimo Daiily News September 10th /09

Drummer goes bossa nova at Hermanns  Times Colonist Oct 14th /09

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Dan Craven, woodwind player and saxophone specialist, teachs music on Vancouver Island and brings the benefit of extensive performance experience to his students. A 2001 recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for teaching excellence, he is an educator who has also had the experience of sharing the stage with top musicians like Phil Dwyer, Arnie Chycoski, Ian McDougall, P.J. Perry, John McDermott, Campbell Ryga, Mike Herriot and many others. In 2007 Dan joined Phil Dwyer's Sax Summit which first launched in 2002 with the release of Sax Summit on CBC records, and has recurred in various incarnations throughout the country since then. 

Dan shares collaborative leadership of a trio, a quartet and an octet, and is a long standing member of Oceanside's Arrowsmith Big Band. He has performed frequently around Canada's West Coast from Victoria to Quadra Island including appearances as a clinician, honour band conductor and guest performer at the Comox Valley Big Band Challenge.  For more info please see: www.dancravenmusic.com

Phil Hamelin is a trumpet and piano player presently studying jazz at Vancouver Island University. He's very interested in composition and arranging and hopes to pursue a full time career in music upon completion of his studies. He's performed with "The Message" since the winter of 2009 and also plays and arranges for the band "Bananafish".

James McRae has been involved in music performance professionally for the past 29 years, give or take a few.. This year (2009) besides being blessed to have played with "The Message" at the Victoria Jazz Festival, The Dancing Man Festival and the Vancouver Island Exibition, James has had the good fortune to play with many wonderful musicians including Scott White, Dan Lapp, Marc Atkinson (a reunion of the Loose Gypsies group!), Brent Jarvis, Dave Teichroeb, Miles Black, Doug Dodd,  Monik Nordine, Joanna Finch, Roy Styfe as well as many younger musicians deserving of wider recognition - James Darling,  Nico Rhodes, Jeremy World and the "younger" ( I didn't realize i was getting that old!) musicians in "The Message". James primarily play drums, but ventured into doing gigs on piano in the past year.. In the early part of 2009 he played drums for a musical theatre show called "The Angry Inch". He loves writing music as much as he does playing.  Some of the songs he's written in the past year along with ones previously released on cd's and etc. can be heard by visiting the 'songs' page here on this site..

Another passion of James is teaching drums at Long and McQuade here in Nanaimo.He derives much inspiration and enjoyment from the process feeling he has benefited immensely from teaching others. Thanks to all the students and teachers James has been fortunate to be with and learn from.

Darren Nilsson is a trombone player that came out of Bryan Stovell’s award winning group the Windjammers where he got to play with some rising stars such as Ingid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Billy Hicks and Diana Krall to name a few. Then moved on to Malaspina University college to complete the 2 year associate in jazz program.

He is currently working and playing with various groups on the island including the John Capon Trombone Quartet, NMA big band, Fiesta, and the locally acclaimed 'DECADENCE’ with Steve Jones. Darren was a regular in Victorias ‘Monday Night Big Band and’ with Don Leppard as well as the Dal Richards Combo group he brought over to the island on occasion. He also had the opportunity to play a few touring shows with 'The TEMPTATIONS’ and ‘ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK’ in the early 90’s.

Andrew Osborne, has been studying jazz voice at Vancouver Island University for the past three years on his way to completing bachelor of music jazz studies. influences include, Matt Dusk, Kurt Elling, and Bobbie McFerrin.

Nicolas Sheasgreen originally from Prince Rupert area, Nic plays bass and is presently involved in the jazz music program at VIU here in Nanaimo.. After spending the past summer fishing off the Queen Charlottes, he's happy to be back focused on music and playing bass as a part of in the Big Bossa.

Brad Shipley is a versatile and accomplished multi-instrumentalist who makes his home on Gabriola Island. He will be completing the Bachelor of music program at V.I.U. by June 2010.  Brad has toured extensively throughout British Columbia, from Innuvik, in the N.W.T., the Yukon and many places in between. He has contributed his stylings to such groups as Fishead Stew, Space9, The Contraband Trio and the Salty Dawgs. Brad has also collaborated on a variety of studio projects as both a mandolinist and guitarist, with many sessions to date. Brad’s love of acoustic music has fueled his studies with the likes of David Grisman, Chris Thile, John Reischman and Mike Marshall. 

Gillian Stone born and raised on Vancouver Island, Gillian began taking music seriously with classical voice lessons as a teenager. Now in her final year of jazz vocals at VIU, she has participated in festivals, workshops, recitals and clinics. She currently plays bass in Nanaimo indie band The B-Sides, does solo folks shows, and performs in other jazz groups on the island.