We've just been at Superjazz. That's a night of yours, Bruno?

Bruno: Yep, it's a night I'm doing with a friend Dudao, who worked with me at Sambaloco, and we decided to put this night on because here in São Paulo there aren't many options for "soulful" culture - there's not much choice. We put this on so we can play lots of different universes of soulful music, including future jazz, Brazilian music, soul, nu-soul, broken beats...it's the first time we've tried something like this. We've worked for a long time on the label [Sambaloco], but in terms of an actual night, it's a new initiative.

Are you still working at Sambaloco?

Bruno: No. Today I've got Nova Vida, which is my label for broken beats and soulful house, all Brazilian music.

What are the next releases on Nova Vida?

Bruno: I'm going to launch Nova Vida Volume Two at the beginning of next year. It's got remixes of Patricia, Ed Motta, most of which I did - broken beat versions. There's a Nu Era mix, and Wilson Simoninha and Max de Castro remixed by Anderson Soares...it's a conceptual album, even more of a conceptual album than Nova Vida Volume 1, which was really a house album. This record is much more radical, it's got a track by Nacão Zumbi, a heavy remix that I did, and something by the Banda de Pifanos de Caruaru, a Brazilian folk band. [Pifano is a type of flute, the traditional instrument of the state of Pernambuco in the North East of Brazil - Ed.]. This band has been in existence for more than one hundred years, being passed on from generation to generation, and now I did a remix which is very "quebrado", very rhythmic, very tribal. I've also got another project that I want to launch before that though, which is called Alma Sessions, a nu-soul record - actually it's not nu-soul, that would be an overly-simplistic way of describing it. It's a record that uses jazz, Brazilian music, and the new aesthetics of soul music. It's got Patricia on it.

So Patricia, what are you doing at the moment?

Patricia: I've got a record that will be coming out soon in Europe, on 27 September, so we're waiting for the launch and in Brazil I'm still getting the ground ready for people to listen to my new work. This is because it's different to the rest of what's happening here at the moment in terms of music. So I'm rehearsing for some shows in São Paulo over the next few months. The album will be launched here eventually, but first of all in Europe. I'm also going to take part in Bruno's show, he's going to do a show in Pompeia here in São Paulo on 22 October, and I'll be singing there. It's a completely live jazz show, and the last track will be this song from Alma Sessions.

Bruno: It's a live show with seven musicians, from the album called Lovely Arthur. We're going to launch at the concert that Patricia's talking about.

Patricia, are you planning to go to Europe for the launching of the record?

Patricia: I think more around the time of December - we're planning a tour of Europe to follow up the launch of the record. Me and Bruno will both be doing some shows, some of the jazz and broken beat stuff that he's doing. That's what we're hoping to do in December, if things go according to plan.

And are all the musicians in the band from São Paulo?

Bruno: I couldn't say that they're all from São Paulo, but they're definitely all Brazilian - there's seven people, including me - double bass, trombone, trumpet, tenor sax, piano, and me on a second trumpet.

Have you always played the trumpet?

Bruno: No, it's a challenge, I've been learning for two years now, but it's a very difficult instrument. I'm studying under the other trumpet player from my band; he's my teacher, but wow, it's radical...radically difficult! I practice every day - there's no way you can abandon the trumpet. It's not like the piano or a guitar, that you can learn to play and then leave.

Does he make noise, Patricia?

Patricia: Ah, I'm already used to it. Every day, in the morning until lunch time...

Bruno: I try acoustic isolation, and using the mute, but even so...

Patricia: Every day - that's how it is!

Bruno: Everything in the name of good music!

Well thank you both, and I hope that we meet when you come over to Europe.

Patricia: Definitely, we'll see you in the cold!

Bruno: Cheers mate!

Note: The album Patricia Marx is out on Ether records from 27 September in Europe and the USA. It features exclusive tracks mixed by Marc Mac and Dego of 4 Hero.

RELATED LINKS:
Patricia Marx - Patricia Marx's official web site
Ether - label home to Patricia and Bruno
Ady Harley - interview with one of the founders of Ether


Buy Patricia Marx's Patricia Marx at Amazon
UK (CD)



Buy Patricia Marx's Respirar at Amazon
UK (CD)  |  US (CD)



Buy Patricia Marx's Millenium at Amazon
US (CD)



Buy Bruno E Lovely Arthur at Amazon
UK (CD)



PUBLISHED: Sunday 10 October

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