YO-YO MA PRESENTS A NIGHT OF BRAZILIAN BLISS AT THE BOWL.Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor It would be hard to image a more perfect evening of music this season - or any season - at the Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheatre at 2301 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, USA, that is used primarily for music performances. The "bowl" in this context is the natural cavity in the earth into which the amphitheater is built, rather than the shape of the than what renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma
In what was described as a night of Brazilian music - an outgrowth of Ma's latest CD, ``Obrigado Brazil'' - clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera Paquito D'Rivera (born 4 June, 1948) is a Cuban alto saxophonist, clarinetist and soprano saxophonist. Biography Paquito was a child prodigy. He started learning music with his father Tito Rivera at the age of 5, who was a well-known classical saxophonist and conductor in , vocalist Rosa Passos, guitarist brothers Sergio and Odair Assad, pianist Kathryn Stott, bassist Nilson Matta and percussionist Cyro Baptista Cyro Baptista (born December 23, 1950) is a Brazilian musician, teacher, and recording artist specializing in percussion in the genre's of jazz and world music. Background Alansohn. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Baptista arrived in the U.S. joined the cellist in a lively, eloquent concert that seamlessly mixed samba, classical and tango (Brazilian is a loose term) with touches of jazz. Taking the stage with Stott, a longtime collaborator, a relaxed-looking Ma opened with the Cesar Camargo Mariano's ``Cristal,'' with its rolling piano lines to which Ma added rhythmic bass notes. Even if you heard the famed cellist countless times on CD, it's still a wonder to watch him in person. There are few musicians who seem so as one with their instruments as Ma, which is why he has been able to take the cello to places it's rarely gone before, giving him a growing repertoire, which in turn adds to his musical touch. His expressive bowing and singing tones give his playing an emotional quality and lyricism lyr·i·cism n. 1. a. The character or quality of subjectivity and sensuality of expression, especially in the arts. b. The quality or state of being melodious; melodiousness. 2. that's impossible to describe adequately. And live it's enhanced, giving even lesser pieces on ``Obrigado'' a vibrancy not heard on plastic. In keeping with the easy atmosphere of the evening (there were two black sofas on stage so those musicians not performing could relax), Ma joked at the beginning about being dinner music for the nearly sellout Bowl crowd (just shy of 17,000). But there was nothing but attentiveness throughout the evening. Though the focus was on him, the virtuoso also made himself part of an ensemble as the artists performed works by such musical greats as Heitor Villa-Lobos Noun 1. Heitor Villa-Lobos - Brazilian composer (1887-1959) Villa-Lobos and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Everyone, except for Matta, addressed the audience. And while Ma often took the lead during a piece, numerous times he stayed in the background, inventively accompanying others when they took the spotlight. Highlights were numerous. The Assad Brothers were stellar on four numbers when they were alone with Ma, including two by tango legend Astor Piazolla, ``Zita'' and ``Tango Suite.'' Cuban clarinetist D'Rivera added some lively moments, including some give and take between him and Ma. He also acknowledged Cuban singing legend Celia Cruz Celia Cruz (October 21 1925 – July 15 2003) was an Afro-Cuban-American salsa singer who spent most of her career living in New Jersey, and working in the United States and several Latin American countries. (verbally) and during the entire group's sizzling siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. rendition of Waldir Azevedo ``Brasileirinho'' threw in a bit of ``Take the A Train'' as a nod to Duke Ellington. The inventive Baptista and Matta provided a marvelous rhythm section. Passos was a wonder. The Brazilian singer has one of those honeyed hon·eyed v. A past tense and a past participle of honey. adj. also hon·ied 1. Containing, full of, or sweetened with honey. 2. Ingratiating; sugary: honeyed words. voices with the right dashes of melancholy and joy. Her versions of Jobim's ``Aguas de Marco''' (``The Waters of March'') and Ary Barroso's ``Aquarela Do Brazil,'' better known as ``Brazil,'' gave these classic songs an unexpected feeling, still recognizable but with a touch of the exotic, much like the entire evening. Rob Lowman, (818) 713-3687 robert.lowman(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: YO-YO MA |
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