Choro Club

The double bassist Jyoji Sawada is also a well-known composer of contemporary music. He sensitively supports the sound of Choro Club from below.

The acoustic string trio Choro Club was formed in 1989 by three musicians, each with his own distinctive character and musical aspirations. They recorded their first album in 1990. The group’s name is taken from the choro, a style of instrumental music with its origins in Rio de Janeiro. While generating the mood of the choro, they create a musical world sometimes intense and sometimes sentimental, through the exercise of their highly original collective sensibility. Almost all the numbers on their previous １８ albums were composed by the members of the trio themselves.

It isn’t possible to assign the music of Choro Club to any standard category. That’s because the sound created by these three musicians is truly unique.

Over the past decade Choro Club have performed not only in standard concert halls and clubs but also in a wide variety of venues including classical concert halls, art museums, galleries, aquariums, botanical gardens, Shinto shrines, beer breweries and various other open-air locations, and at jazz festivals.

The music of Choro Club has been highly praised for its creativity even in Brazil, the country of origin of the choro. They recorded their third album in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, and a solo open-air concert they gave on that occasion, organized by the Department of Tourism of the City of Rio de Janeiro, was attended by as many as 3,000 people and was given prominent coverage, along with the scene of recording, by local

newspapers and TV and radio broadcasts. In 1995, Choro Club was sponsored by the Japan Foundation on a concert tour of six Latin American countries including Brazil.

Subsequently, in 2002, they collaborated with Tomi Taira, a well-known actressﾂ from Okinawa, on an original musical play "NIRAIKANAI", at Fortareza in northeastern Brazil.

Choro Club has released 3 albums in 2005 - their latest album "PREVENDO" from King records, then the soundtrack for "ARIA", the popular Japanese TV animation, released by Victor Entertainment, and their greatest hits album "REVENDO" from BMG, which includes a selection of their works from 1990 to 1994.

Choro Club have established their own unprecedented and unique sound over the ten or so years they have been working together.

The members of Choro Club strive to achieve not only a high degree of musical sophistication but also a truly adult sense of relaxation and pleasure. Their music continues to offer universal potential.

"BRASILIANA" Production Notes

The recording of Choro Club's new album (their 7 th) started on

December 30, 1999 at a studio in Tokyo, with Art Lindsay who was touring

in Tokyo at that time. Jyouji Sawada composed the neo-Bossa Nova flavored

number, and Art wrote the lyrics in Portuguese on the spot, after

listening to the melody. He also did the vocals. And futhermore, during

the intro, Art played the free improvisation on his guitar, along with

Samm Bennett, a percussionist based in Tokyo. It resulted as an

extravagant collaboration which reveals Art's versatility.

On January 2000, the following year, the 3 members of Choro Club

recorded 3 numbers at a studio in Shonan, and then flew to Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil. The band is expecting various guest musicians to join

their recording in Rio. The long list includes musicians that are deeply

in love with Brazil and the music, those who are proud of the country and

the music, and those who have been creating global music, free from

nationalities whatsoever, including Art Lindsay, who is 'half Brazilian'.

A desirable pack of collaborators are planned to gather for the occasion.

Joyce has been acquainted with Shigeji Sasako for 10 years, and has

been a fan of Choro Club ever since, but it is their first time to work

together officially. Sasako picked out and arranged Antonio Carlos

Jobin's masterpiece "Dindi", a tune that he felt will perfectly fit Choro

Club's sound and Joyce's voice, which is the only cover song in the

album. "Dindi" is the nickname of Bossa Nova diva Sylvia Telles. Joyce

told the 3 members the following story referring to the lyrics of the

song before the recording.

The song "Dindi" which we are going to record is not a name of a

person but of a place. A place where there flows a beautiful river. So

let us all picture the scene while recording the tune.

This inspired the members, brought their feelings as one, and thus led

to a very imaginative and emotional version of "Dindi".

After the collaboration with their voices comes the joint session of

various bands. Carlos Malta & Pife Muderno is a unique instrumental group

formed by 3 percussionists including Marco Suzano, performed without any

chord instruments. On the other hand, Choro Club is a string trio. The

collaboration stimulated both parties, which resulted in a huge success,

where they eventually agreed to perform together once again during Pife

Muderno's Japan tour (August 2000).

Jaques Morelenbaum, a maestro from the same generation, demonstrated

his brilliant talent by arranging and conducting the string section, as

well as playing the cello. Jaques told the members: When I was arranging

the string section of 'Trilhas', while listening to it on cassette over

and over again, my 5 year old daughter got deeply attached to the melody.

She can even sing the whole tune now. Sasako who composed the song, was

so touched to hear her say so. "Changeable Weather", a tune composed by

Sawada, is a brilliant piece of music which features Jaques's solo, as

well as the performance by Marcos Suzano.

Now, let's talk about Marcos Suzano who I've already mentioned several

times. Marcos, who widened the aspects of Brazilian music, is a wellknown

musician in Japan nowadays, but has been acquainted with Sasako for

nearly 15 years. He started working with Choro Club in '92 during the

band's 3rd album. He appears in 7 songs (including the one as a member of

Pife Muderno). Since they have know each other for quite a long time,

they recorded 4 songs within in a minute, including "Canja Caseira", a

tune composed by Akioka.

"We were having so much fun day by day, it was so incredible" screams

the members, who were thrilled with all the fabulous guests coming in one

after another for the recording. The last session was with Siba, the

young and talented violinist who plays the "Rebeca", a simple violin made

in north eastern part of Brazil. The 4 of them recorded their jam session

for the intro part, right after they were taught by Siba a traditional

song from the north east.

The new album has been named "Braziliana", a result of numerous

fruitful encounters with interesting people. Choro Club has consciously

avoided to push forward any "Brazilian" flavors to their sound. But after

being around for 10 years, and have established a unique sound of their

own, it just seemed to be a natural choice to adopt 'Brazil', the world's

most liberal and exciting music spot of today, a keyword which perfectly

represents Choro Club's music.

Jin Nakahara / Artenia

Joyce

Singer songwriter who has released numerous hit songs including

'Feminina' and 'Clareana'. She is very well accepted in Japan and has

been touring the country almost annually for the last few years. She has

appeared on records with Spick and Span, Yuka Kido etc., along with Choro

Club. Her new album is called 'Hard Bossa', released under London Label.

Marcos Suzano

The revolutionary rhythm creator of Pandeiro, also known as the leader of

the new generation of the Brazilian mixed pop. He is also a member of

Carlos Malta & Pife Muderno. He produced Kazushi Miyazawa's "Afrosick",

and has performed with various Japanese artists including Yosuke

Yamashita and Numasawa Nao, and has intimite relations with Japan. His

new album is "Flash".

Carlos Malta & Pife Muderno

A 2 flutes, 3 percussionists (including Marcos Suzano) group, formed by

multi-reed performer Carlos Malta, who was also a member of prodigy

Hermeto Pascoal's group. The group interprets traditional music of

northeast Brazil in an original way, by using the Pife (flute). The album

'Carlos Malta & Pife Muderno' was released in '99. They will be touring

Japan on August 2000.

Jaques Moreienbaum

A cellist, arranger and producer, known as a reliable partner of Caetano

Veloso. Also renowned for her music themes including "Central Station".

Now the leader of the Brazilian music scene. She is also the member of

Qualtet Jobin Morelenbaum. Also known for her collaboration with Ryuichi

Sakamoto.

Siba

The key member of the mult-pop group Mestre Ambrosio, who have adoped the

traditional music of northeast Brazil, and reproduced it through the

filter of the rock generation. Also known as a maestro of the "Rabeca", a

traditional violin from the northeast, and has also taken part in the

soundtrack of the movie "Central Station". The group's new album is "Fua

Na Casa De Cabral".

Arto Lindsay

New York born and bred, has lived in the northeastern part of Brazil for

15 years during his childhood. The one and only musician who has adopted

various types of music from noise, punk, funk to Brazilian. He has also

been working as a producer recently. Also known for his intimate

relations with various Japanese artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto. His

new album is called "Prize".