O Som Do Jazz - A Kiss for Rio (2013)

O Som Do Jazz (the sound of jazz in Portuguese) recaptures the grace, energy and spirit of 1960s Brazilian Bossa Nova, samba-jazz, MPB & Baião. Imagine Brazilian musicians in love with American jazz playing in Rio de Janeiro night clubs circa 1965 - and you get an idea of what O Som Do Jazz is about. In this second release by O Som Do Jazz, Rio de Janeiro singer Andrea Moraes Manson and David Manson contribute nine original compositions in addition to three Brazilian standards with Portuguese and English lyrics. As a working band, O Som Do Jazz has performed at Mod Miami, the Pensacola JazzFest, Salvador Dali Museum, Historic Asolo Theatre, Jazz Brasil, Brasil Arts Festival and at the Straz Performing Arts Center, among others. The band enjoys audiences that sing and dance with them. 'I know that American audiences are being respectful when they quietly listen to us in concert, but I always encourage Brazilians in the audience to move and sing along with us. Then the Americans join in. Music is too powerful a force to be a passive participant.' says Andrea. Press: 'On Sunday, July 8, the O Som Do Jazz Sextet performed to a packed Side Door cabaret room at the Palladium. Attendees lounged to the pitch-perfect sounds of the experienced jazzy players; a sonorous mix of instrumental numbers, classic Brazilian pop and sultry samba. Dynamic and subtly passionate, Moraes sang with a range that went from whisper soft to belly-socking belt-outs, drawing from Brazilian greats like Elis Regina.' - Julie Garisto, Creative Loafing 'O Som Do Jazz does bossa nova the right way without getting lost in musical clichés.' Lissette Corsa, Global Groove Connection Andrea Moraes Manson sings lead vocals on the set -- with a quality that's light, but never thin or too airy -- just the right sort of 60s bossa mode to please our ears, and a style that few American recordings ever get right! - Dusty Groove.