St. Petersburg, Florida's O Som Do Jazz Drops A Debut Album, Infinita Bossa

I distinctly remember O Som Do Jazz performing live when they opened for Brazilian multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger Jovino Santos-Neto at the Palladium in St. Petersburg, Florida a few years ago. Carioca singer Andrea Moraes Manson, who's married to David Manson, an architect by day and the ensemble's trombonist and arranger by night, got up onstage and told the story of how her American husband, upon hearing her sing around the house, cajoled her into lending her voice for a bossa nova inspired jazz group he had thought about forming. Reluctant at first, Moraes Manson eventually warmed up to the idea. This year O Som Do Jazz released its debut Infinita Bossa. The sixteen-track album breezes through the Brazilian Songbook -- interpreting some of the timeless gems from the bossa repertoire and other surprises along the way. More contemporary bossas by Antônio Carlos & Jocafi, Djavan, Pedro Caetano, and Rita Lee -- the original singer of 60s psychedelic rock band Os Mutantes -- are interspersed among the standards from luminaries like Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Carlos Lyra, Marcos Valle, Baden Powell, and Luiz Bonfá. There's even an original composition by David Manson titled "Sea & Salt," a smooth horn infused, jazz-bossa conversation that shines even in the company of masterpieces. Moraes Manson's vocals have more of a jazz inflection that emanates a sun-baked tangible vibe in stark opposition to the conventional airy and ethereal voice associated with female bossa sirens. The arrangements, on the other hand, are in keeping with tradition, subtle in striking just the right balance between vocals and instrumentation -- that quintessentially Carioca sway that's been nurtured since the birth of bossa 50 years ago this year. Not to be overlooked are the able musicians who participated in the recording. Roberto Bertone (drums), Ademar Fonseca (bass), Régis Moreira (keyboards), Jeremy Powell (sax), John Ward (flute), and the Alfredo Rivero, who's beautifully nuanced guitar work kept the cadence in check. O Som Do Jazz does bossa nova the right way without getting lost in musical clichés. Come support this local band as they perform live on June 22 at NOVA during the Brasil Arts Festival. You'll feel like you're in Ipanema, if only just for a day.