Bazios - Bill Beach CD

READ MUSIC MAGAZINE REVIEWS: Oregon Music News Album: Bill Beach waxes wonderful on newest Brazilian-inspired CD by Angela Allen on May 6, 2011 I love Bill Beachs music. Composer, arranger, singer, instrumentalist, he consistently exhibits lyrical piano-playing and produces harmonious compositions that gently invite in listeners. Now with his third latin-style album, released this month (May, 2011) on his Axial label, "Buzios," he gives further dimension to his poetic piano playing and sweet baritone-bass, surrendering to the influences of mid-century Brazilian bossa nova giants Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto. Beachs voice, singing mostly Portuguese, comes close to Gilbertos in tone and light-stepping rhythmic structure; his piano virtuosity is rooted in styles of expressive jazz keyboardists Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner. The 50-minute CD is named for a dreamy Brazilian seaside village made famous by Bridget Bardots visits with her South American lover way back when. Beach visited Buzios and was intoxicated by the fishermens nets and scalloped beaches. The place certainly provided him with musical inspiration. Beachs 12 original tunes include five instrumentals (my favorite is "A Casa da Ana" or "Anas House") that showcase the talents of four Portland-area veteran drummers - Reinhardt Meltz, Gary Hobbs, Charlie Doggett and Ron Steen. Add in the expertise of bassist Dave Captein, who has played with Beach for years, and youre in for pure rhythmic pleasure. Theres much to love about the vocals and upbeat Latin Bossa nova overlay. Beach sings with Portlands Becky Kilgore on "Tuda E Relativo" ("Everything is Relative"), and their voices work together languorously yet precisely. In a linguistic twist, "Nada de Lagrimas" ("No Tears") starts out in Japanese and ends in Portuguese. Beachs ear for language is as attuned and as well articulated as his playing. A longtime Oregon jazz pianist by way of small-town Corvallis, Beach has been recording Brazilian music for several years and singing since childhood (his mother was a piano teacher). His vocals were on hiatus as his piano chops took over in the mid-80s Portlands jazz scene. He started singing again in 2002 and went public with his Brazilian love-bug in 2004 when he recorded interpretations of Brazilian classics on his CD, "Letting Go." His second latin-style CD, "Brasil Beat," came out in 2010, so "Buzios" makes a triple. Jazz Scene Magazine May 3, 2011 Review by Kyle OBrien Buzios, Bill Beach. Beach was bitten by the Brazilian jazz bug nearly a decade ago, and the result has been a couple of infectiously good Brazilian-influenced jazz discs, including this latest from the Portland composer/arranger/pianist/vocalist. His slightly breathy delivery fits the bossa style well, and - when hes joined by fellow Portland vocalist Rebecca Kilgore on Tudo a Relativo (Everything is Relative) - the result is smooth sailing, with Kilgores ebullient voice flowing with the Portuguese lyrics. Also joining Beach are bassist Dave Captein and drummers/percussionists Reinhardt Melz, Gary Hobbs, Charlie Doggett and Ron Steen. Beach has long been a welcome and unique voice in the Portland jazz world, and this disc of originals continues his contributions. While Beachs vocals are nice, his instrumentals are equally strong and focused. The title track warms up the listener with a Bahia breeze, while Petes Place grooves with polyrhythms. Beach has obviously studied the Portuguese language, and it comes out in his mellifluous diction and lyrics that sound like they were written by a true Brazilian - no small feat. Of course, for those of us who dont speak the language, we have to be lulled by the lyrics as if they were another instrumental voice, which works well. Beachs piano takes center stage when the vocals are silent, and he proves once again that he is his own best accompanist. Its another successful voyage to Brazil from Beach, and the subsequent concerts should be a pleasure. 2011, Axial Records, 50 minutes. Jazz Scene Magazine May 3, 2011 Review by George Fendel Buzios, Bill Beach, piano, vocals, composer. Imagine writing numerous pieces of music in a style native to another country, and then writing the lyrics in the language of that country. Think about growing up in Corvallis, Oregon, and then at some phase of your life, you begin writing music thats very Brazilian, adding lyrics in Portuguese. Well, Portlander Beach has done exactly that. Twice! On this, his second recording of original music worthy of any well-crafted Jobim or Gilberto melody, Beach offers a dozen examples of his piano, vocals and his charming writing, all in a bossa/Brazilian bag. He surrounds himself with a talented troop of Portlanders in Dave Captein, bass, and, believe it or not, four scintillating Rose City drummers, albeit one to each selection: Charlie Doggett, Gary Hobbs, Reinhardt Melz and Ron Steen. To sweeten the deal, add Portlands premier singer, Rebecca Kilgore, who joins Beach on one outstanding cut. Not all the tunes are vocals, and instrumentally, Beach is playing his own compositions, very musical ones I might add, in a setting he obviously loves. One can only guess how many hundreds of hours Beach has invested in becoming a stirring interpreter of this very special music. What an accomplishment! And what a delicious new CD as well! Axial Records, 2011; 49:3.0 Bill Beach has performed with Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Harris, Mark Murphy, Howard Roberts, Charlie Rouse, Nat Adderley, Jimmy Cobb "beautifully articulated Portuguese" "a wistful, classic Brazilian sound" "Legato lines flow effortlessly, and lush chord voicings never obscure his clean touch and rhythmic dexterity. Beachs strength as an ensemble player comes through in the tight, interactive trio sound." -Lynn Darroch, The Oregonian "Beach displays a warm and gentle vocal approach to these songs, much like Jobim himself. And to my ear, his Portuguese is flawlessly delivered." "splendid vocals" " Beach lives up to the consistency hes shown as one of our most creative and swinging piano cats." "a recording sure to lift your spirit and put some sunshine in your day." -George Fendel, Jazzscene Magazine "Bill Beach is a swinging jazz pianist with a terrific sense of motion, understated pyrotechnics and a fleet set of rhythmic reflexes. Singers and instrumentalists (including well-knowns like Joe Henderson, Mark Murphy and Bobby Hutcherson) have known that for years. Whats been kept under wraps is that Beach is also a great singer, with a soft Joo Gilberto timbre and a yen for slinky bossa novas (sung in Portuguese, no less!)." -Tim Duroche, Willamette Week "Bill Beachs pianistic technique is striking, inventive and musically effective. His solos emerge in a crisp lyricism that is engaged, resonant and consistently brilliant." "Conveys a pure essence of piano jazz that is sweet, lovely and irresistable" -Rebecca Webb, KINK radio "The music is painted with the bright colors and influences of mid-century Brazilians Antonia Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto. (Beachs voice and soft singing style are quite similar to Gilbertos.) Dont forget Carlos Lyra, Edu Lobo, Luis Eca, Sergio Mendes, Joao Donato and Milton Nascimento: Beach learned from all of them." "seductive, light-stepping singing." "will transport you to the beach, in the prone position." "captures the lyricism of influential pianists Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner, even under the bossa nova overlay. He and his Brazil-centric music are so easy to like." "You can play this CD thousands of times, clean the house with its tunes behind you, shove it into the cars CD player and cross the country with it, sprawl on the couch with it, and never overdose. Each tune is melodic and captures the irresistibly danceable latin beat." - Angela Allen, Oregon Music News.

Specifics

  • Album: Bazios
  • Artist: Bill Beach
  • Label: CD Baby

(CD-845121033267)

SKU CD-845121033267
Barcode # 845121033267
Brand CD Baby
Shipping Weight 0.0710kg
Shipping Width 0.140m
Shipping Height 0.010m
Shipping Length 0.140m

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