Aquarela is the brainchild of Hauboist, English horn player and virtuoso improviser Jean-Luc “Oboman” Fillon, who decided to indulge his passion for Brazilian music and its frenzied rhythms. He has chosen to share this musical adventure with two remarkable Brazilian virtuosos: Edu Miranda (mandolin) and Tuniko Goulart (7-string Brazilian guitar). Following the success of their first two albums, Choros do Brazil and Outros Choros do Brasil - record of the week on Fip and selection of the summer by Les Inrocks - they are back with a colorful new album, A Bela Vida. The result is simply incredibly festive and jubilant, including in the most dizzying pieces, where the intelligent virtuosity of the oboe and mandolin in the many sinuosities and volutes, offers perfect unison!
Brazilian popular music constantly oscillates between Alegria (joy) and Saudade (nostalgia), the two complementary poles of the Brazilian soul: Brazil's musical riches are born of the intermingling of all the country's peoples, with Indian, Black and Portuguese elements. Choro, born at the end of the 19th century in Rio de Janeiro, is above all an instrumental music of oral tradition. Choro is the soul of Brazilian music, and the origin of other styles that are better known to the general public: Samba, Bossa Nova and much of Brazilian popular song. Here, Choro blends with jazz in a creative freedom as surprising as it is jubilant...
Jean-Luc Fillon alias Oboman
Oboe, English Horn, Composer
Jean-Luc Oboman Fillon is one of those rare musicians whose artistic career has been marked by original, multi-faceted achievements. A conductor, composer and multi-instrumentalist with a solid classical background, he has taken, with a skilful blend of discretion and perseverance, one of the most exotic and convincing artistic paths on our musical scene.
His credo: to build a musical project rooted in improvisation, jazz and world music around the specific sounds of the oboe, oboe d'amore and English horn. His talents as a melodist, the richness of sound, the authenticity and lyricism of the oboe - an instrument hitherto reserved for traditional written music - combined with his exceptional virtuosity, have earned him recognition from the musical world.
"Last but not least, his vertiginous speed and virtuosity in sinuosities and volutes, particularly in the perfect unisons with the mandolin, are worthy of note. At this point, his instrumental mastery reveals itself to be singular The synchronization of rhythm, intonation and phrasing is perfect, note for note, in a style of unbridled improvisation Impressive fine-tuning work", Sophie Chambon, Les DNJ
He has recorded 17 albums as leader, to great critical acclaim (several times selected by Fip and 4**** Jazzmagazine...), taken part in numerous radio broadcasts, given many concerts in France and toured the USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Spain and Portugal. In addition, he is regularly invited to give Master-Classes at leading conservatories (CNSM de Lyon and numerous CRR/CRD, HEM in Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, University of New York, Austin, Birmingham, Porto...).
“The fullness of his sound gives his instruments, the oboe and English horn, a place in jazz that double reeds rarely achieve”, Franck Bergerot, Jazz Magazine.
Born in 1968 in São Paulo, Edu Miranda bathed very early in a familiar and intense musical environment, where the seresta and the chorinho occupied a special place. At eleven, he had his first contact with a mandolin, and, fascinated by the sound of the instrument, decided that it would be his main means of musical expression. At the age of twelve, he met Lendário Evandro, one of the greatest Brazilian mandolinists. Evandro worked at Dell Vecchio, a large musical instrument store in central São Paulo, where the cream of São Paulo musicians used to meet. Very quickly, his participation in Choros orchestras prompted him to improve his instrumental technique. Feeling, however, that the expression of his style required theoretical improvement and knowledge of other musical languages, he studied harmony and improvisation with Rui Saleme (ex violinist of the Trio D'Alma) and Renata Montanari. These lessons were fundamental for the development of his own musical expression. In 1988, he went on tour in Portugal, "the motherland" with the musical group of the theater "Haute Forêt", having the opportunity to know and appreciate various musicians of different styles. He then left for the Netherlands, and stayed there for a while. The attraction of the discovery is there, but the nostalgia "Saudade" of his native Brazil incites him to return to Brazil in 1990. In 1992, he leaves for Lisbon, and begins to develop an intense activity of arranger and producer of several artists from the Portuguese musical landscape, and is solicited as mandolinist with various groups and musicians: Mario Laginha and Maria João, Gilberto Gil, António Chainho, Pedro Jóia, Martinho du Village, Toninho Potager, Filipa Parents, Nico Assumption, Romanças, Réal Society, I group Marambaia,… In 2003, he recorded his first solo compact disc, entitled "Choro de Longe". This disc is unanimously praised by musical critics and well received by the public. For this disc, Edu collaborated with Tuniko Goulart, a longtime friend, and also considered one of the greatest guitarists of the moment.
Tuniko Goulart is born in southern Brazil in 1967. Music was always present in his Family, in such a way with 11 years old he was the first and only professional musician recognized by the O.M.B, the Brazilian Musicians Order. From there on, many were the years travelling through Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina with many groups.
He always had the luck to be invited to play in tours with great musicians, all graduated in the “school of life”, and they taught him the art of comping.
Either in tours or in studio recordings, He collaborate with musicians such as: Gilberto Gil, Martinho da Vila, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Arthur Maia, Vicente Amigo, Stanley Jordan, Jeff Berlin, Eric Sardinas, Cesária Évora, Antônio Chainho, Edu Miranda Trio, Giovani Goulart, Filipa Pais, Isabel Campelo, João Frade Trio, Real Companhia, Angola Brasil Trio, Paulinho Lêmos, Brisas, André Sarbib, and recently even with Madonna!
INVITE POSSIBLE : ZE LUIS NASCIMENTO percussions & voice
Zé Luis Nascimento, Brazilian percussionist, from Salvador de Bahia, is an inventive and fiery virtuoso, who has managed to evolve his original style through his many artistic adventures. As a soloist and assistant to the musical direction, he goes on world tours with the folk ballet of Bahia, in which he was trained.
Arrived in France in 1996, he opened up to eastern and western percussion styles and then developed a deeply original rhythmic vocabulary mixing very varied instruments, which he gathered in a musical discourse of great coherence.
Sometimes on stage or in the studio, he collaborates with a good number of artists, such as Titi Robin, Mayra Andrade, Ayo, Césaria Evora, Grace & the Spiritual Riders, Jean-Luc Ponty, Al Di Meola, Sixun, Tania Maria, Lokua Kanza, Oumou Sangare, Tété, Souad Massi, Vladimir Cosma, Michel Legrand, Céline Rudolph, Jaques Morelenbaum, Georges Moustaki, among others.
Above all, he says "wanting to serve music". Inspired, elegant and powerful, this could define the musical universe of Zé Luis Nascimento.
