Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dan Costa: Suite Três Rios

Dan Costa: Suite Três Rios

By Paul Naser
July 29, 2016
View read count

The rich musical history of Brazilian music parallels the development of jazz in the United States' in many ways. At the same time, the two informed and influenced each other as they matured. Brazilian legends like

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim and

Dori Caymmi

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Dori Caymmi are remembered for their influence on the development of Bossa Nova, and Jobim, like few composers of popular music in the 20th century, continues to be revered for his many contributions and innovations.

All this history is instantly recognizable in the compositions on pianist Dan Costa's latest record, Suite Três Rios. Tunes like "Samba" that begin with that joyfully familiar groove and its unmistakable lilt remind the listener that they are listening to musicians who are steeped in tradition, while the very same opening, simply by the fact that it is orchestrated on the modern drum set, also hints at what the new generation has to offer. The harmony is unmistakably modern jazz.

The crystalline opening chords in the high register of the piano that begin the opening track "Alba," indicative of a deep awareness of touch and tone, remind us of Jobim's fascination with the classical tradition. The rest of the track introduces us to a pianist and composer with a great respect for his peers. With hints of

Geoffrey Keezer

keyboards
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Geoffrey Keezer and

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau in both feel and phrasing, Costa has clearly listened as much as he has practiced.

Judging by the solos on tracks like "Bai?o," Costa brought a band that really came to play. Guitarist Ricardo Silveira plays beautifully on the track, as he does throughout the record, and percussionist Marcos Suzano's subtle yet poignant percussion playing lends both atmosphere and drive to the track. Other highlights include the gorgeous "Bossa Nova" featuring vocalist

Leila Pinheiro

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Leila Pinheiro and the closer "Aria"

Fans of contemporary jazz will undoubtedly enjoy the latest from Dan Costa, and though those looking for Brazilian music in the style of

Joao Gilberto

vocals
1931 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Joao Gilberto or his contemporaries may not find what they are looking for, they will surely be pleasantly surprised to discover that Brazilian jazz, like its American counterpart, has fondly remembered its roots as it unabashedly moves forward.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Alba (ft. Jaques Morelenbaum); Chorinho; Samba; Bossa Nova (ft. Leila Pinheiro); Bai?o (ft. Marcos Suzano); Maracatu; Modinha (ft. Teco Cardoso); Aria

Personnel

Dan Costa

piano

Jaques Morelenbaum

cello

Ricardo Silveira

guitar

Rafael Barata

drums

Teco Cardoso

saxophone, tenor

Vittor Santos

trombone

Marcelo Martins

woodwinds

Alberto Continentino

bass

Leila Pinheiro

vocals

Dan Costa: Piano, Compositions, Arrangements, Production; Ricardo Silveira: Guitar, Executive Co-production; Marcelo Martins: Alto & Tenor Sax; Vittor Santos: Trombone; Alberto Continentino: Double Bass; Rafael Barata: Drums, Pandeiro; Jaques Morelenbaum: cello; Leila Pinheiro: voice; Teco Cardoso: baritone sax; Marcos Suzano: percussion

Album information

Title: Suite Três Rios | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Once Upon a Time Right Now
< Previous

Dream Delivery
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.