Faz Tempo – Alvorada
Faz Tempo, the anticipated sophomore release from London-based international ensemble Alvorada is out October 25th, 2024 on ARC Music.
Faz Tempo is an album deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of Brazilian choro. A style whose influence has widely impacted not only Brazilian music – choro is often revered as the grandfather of bossa nova and the father of samba, two arguably better-known Brazilian musical styles – but, more intimately, brought together five separate souls through a shared love of the intricate, emotive, upbeat music of choro.
Inspired by concepts of time – both the devotion of time to what is important to oneself and exploring musical time and rhythm – Faz Tempo is steeped in choro style and traditions yet blossoms into something exciting and new. Their personal touches, lived experiences, and diverse musical backgrounds allow this revered music to signify an evolution of not only choro but also Alvorada. Throughout the album, the band revel in the hallmarks of choro. Vibrant and complex melodies performed by world class musicians showcase the syncopation, counterpoint and subtle modulations for which choro is famous. The traditional regional instrumentation of flute, clarinet, cavaquinho, 7-string guitar and pandeiro are supplemented at various points through the album by alto flute, piccolo and bass clarinet, as well as featured guests Roee Ben Sira on piano and Vitor Gonçalves on accordion.
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Beyond technical prowess, the band's reverence and pure passion for choro is clear. They were introduced through jam sessions known as ‘rodas de choro’, where they entwined in a circle of creativity and passion for music. Playing with infectious enthusiasm, Faz Tempo begins by gently lifting the listener with the album's first single, ‘Borbulhando’, which releases on October 4th, 2024. We then dance through an uplifting selection of primarily original compositions and arrangements, with each track reflecting the bold but playful personalities of the respective composer yet blending seamlessly with the individual styles of Alvorada's players. Indeed, the band happily admits to how each influences the other to produce a holistic approach that yields a musical harvest infused with Alvorada's very heart and soul. Alongside the dazzling original works is an interpretation of renowned Brazilian composer Caetano Veloso's ‘Sampa’ featuring a bespoke arrangement by Luiz Morais. ‘Vinda boa’ is co-written by Brazilian guitarist and friend of the band Samuel Rocha.
For Alvorada, it seems inspiration knows no bounds. Few international albums likely contain a track inspired by a visit to a British chip shop such as ‘Chez Fred’. This is a little sample of the creative sense of fun Alvorada brings with their music and their irrepressible joy in performing. The album closes with the contemplative ‘Gina’, an ode to love and loss dedicated to composer Jeremy Shaverin’s late mother.
Each band member of Alvorada has their own story of how they discovered choro. Luiz Morais grew up in Northeastern Brazil, surrounded by lyrical songs, but soon found the 7-string guitar and its choro bass lines or baixarias. Much like bandmate Jeremy, Andrew Woolf found choro through his time playing Brazilian percussion, and flautist Rachel Hayter was first introduced to choro melodies as a child by her tutor. These tunes lay dormant inside her until reawakened by a trip to Brazil. Andres Ticino studied classical and Latin percussion in Uruguay and has gone on to perform at WOMAD and across South America.
Choro’s positive vibes, cheerful, rapid rhythms, and the general feeling of playfulness and interactivity are brought to the listener on Faz Tempo. This album abounds with artistic improvisation, technical skill and a deep love and respect for choro. Alvorada – which translates from Portuguese as dawn or daybreak – invites you to bask in the light of Faz Tempo.
For further information please contact Amelia Zimmatore | amelia@arcmusic.co.uk | +44(0)1342 770478
ARC Music Productions Int Ltd, PO Box 111, East Grinstead, RH19 4FZ, UK | www.arcmusic.co.uk