MP3 Doug De Vries - Lantana Lovers

Australian guitarist de vries draws on the rich traditions of classical and contemporary Brazilian music with deep understanding, musicality and integrity.

16 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Bossa Nova, WORLD: Samba



Details:
LANTANA LOVERS
(2004)
Editions DdV 603

This much awaited original instrumental album revolves
around Choro, which is a style
of instrumental music from Rio meaning "cry" in Portuguese...
R E V I E W

De Vries is one of this country's most accomplished guitarists. His metier is the music of Brazil, in particular Choro, a precursor of the Samba.

Using seven-string guitars and a steel stringed ukulele instrument called the cavaquinho, de Vries treats us to a handsome set of original pieces along with
the occasional cover of Hermeto Pascoal, Jobim and
Villa-Lobos.

Whether a spirited carnival piece like Novo Frevo Novo
or the elegant Elegy For Rita, de Vries' playing always
offers musicality and emotion ahead of technique â
not that he's lacking in that department at all. He is helped extensively by other musicians, such as jazz pianist Joe Chindamo, whose accordion playing in parallel with the guitar is a delight in Novo Frevo Novo. The sound quality
is very fine and in all this album is an exploration of part
of the musica brasileira with originality, vitality and finesse in equal measure.

Shane Nichols
Financial Review
25th June 2004

DOUG DE VRIES is one of Australia's best and most versatile guitarists and composers, excelling in a variety of musical genres from jazz to new tango to traditional and contemporary Brazilian music.

Musical director for the well-known Australian artist Vince Jones for many years, the legacy of which has influenced a generation of jazz musicians and songwriters.

Completed a degree in composition and performance studying with Jeff Pressing and Mark Pollard at La Trobe University in 1987.

In 1988 was invited to be a part of the Australian Jazz Orchestra featuring Don Burrows, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky and Bernie McGann, and toured Australia and the USA.

Released his first self-titled solo venture in 1990 demonstrating his compositions and command of diverse styles and settings. Thereafter received the award for Best Jazz Guitarist from Australian critics.

Since then he has embarked upon several projects of note including two ABC recordings, has been in demand for countless guest features with various artists including Andrew Pendlebury, Christine Sullivan, Kate Ceberano, Judy Jacques and US jazz and blues singers Barbara Morrison and Andy Bey. This demand has taken him to major festivals and events both throughout Australia and abroad, UK, India, USA, New Caledonia and Brazil.

In 1996 Doug was commissioned to compose a score for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as part of its ongoing contemporary music series Metropolis. He contributed works towards the 'Passion' project commissioned by the Australian Art Orchestra.

He has also written, arranged, orchestrated and played in several film scores such as, The Last Days of Chez Nous, Six Degrees of Separation
and Hotel Sorrento.

Recent projects have focused on Doug's long-standing passion for South American music, in particular, tango nuevo and choro. This has taken him to Brazil where he impressed many of the legendary figures of choro and forged a strong affinity with Mauricio Carrilho and Egberto Gismonti who released Doug's
Água e Vinho project on his label Carmo in 2000, distributed by ECM worldwide.

The album A Knot in the Wood, released in 2002, featured songs and instrumentals from the canon of Brazilian music with a coterie of young and gifted musicians including Diana Clark, Jaimie Smith and Christopher Hale. The album reached top 10 lists in 'Rhythms' magazine Arts Critics Poll, January 2003.

Doug's 2004 venture, the all instrumental recording Lantana Lovers featured Joe Chindamo
and Slava Grigoryan. This is a comprehensive document of original music plus rare gems of the choro genre that opens new vistas on Australian contemporary and world music.

Three Shadows of Blue, released in the same year saw Doug team up once again with Diana Clark for an intimate look at some of the canon of bossa nova and MPB (music popular brasileira) with just guitar and voice.

In 2005 Doug returned to Brazil to record an all original project with choro master Mauricio Carrilho soon to be released through Acari Records www.acari.com.br