OSCAR
Oscar Castro-Neves
(LMUS 0010)

"..A small gem. [..] Presented here are several of [Oscar's] most fetching pieces, each intricately arranged, sometimes for as few as two musicians, sometimes for an ensemble that includes Castro-Neves and the Paul Winter Consort. Delicately plucked rhythms and Castro-Neves' hushed vocals give even his arrangement of J.S.Bach's 'Air for the G string' a decidedly breezy, Brazilian flavor, no less so than the bustling 'Street Corner Samba'. But the achingly beautiful melodies that Castro-Neves has composed for tunes such as 'Rio Dawning' and 'Luizana' are what really commant your attention. Lovely, poignant and haunting, they remain with you long after the record has stopped spinning." (WASHINGTON POST)

TRACKING AND ARTISTS 1. Rancho do Carioca Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, piano, voice Rhonda Larson - flute Ted Moore - percussion Russ Landau - bass 2. Rio Dawning Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, piano Paul Halley - organ 3. Song for Joyce Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, piano Paul Halley - piano 4. Summer Winds Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar Paul Halley - piano 5. Air on a 6 String Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, voice Paul Halley - organ 6. Onde está Você Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar Paul Winter - alto sax Paul Halley - organ Luverey Fiorini - original Portuguese lyrics 7. Saudade Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, piano Rhonda Larson - flute 8. Bahia Calling Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, piano, voice Rhonda Larson - bass flute John Clark - French horn Ted Moore - percussion Russ Landau - bass 9. Forgotten Dreams Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar Rhonda Larson - flute Eugene Friesen - cello Paul Halley - organ 10. Luizana Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, percussion Paul Winter - alto sax John Clark - French horn Russ Landau - bass 11. Cat Song Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar Paul Halley - piano 12. Street Corner Samba Oscar Castro-Neves - guitar, percussion Paul Winter - soprano sax Rhonda Larson - flute Russ Landau - bass Guilherme Franco - percussion Marcio Sapel - percussion Produced by Paul Winter, Oscar Castro-Neves, Russ Landau, Paul Halley

Paul Winter and Oscar Castro-Neves. (Photo© Gary Gunderson) Paul Winter writes: "Guitarist, composer, pianist, arranger, and musical bon viviant, Oscar Castro-Neves is a many-faceted gem who radiates the rhythmic joy of Brazilian music. I met Oscar in Rio de Janeiro in 1962 during a tour of Latin America with my college jazz sextet. He was one of the seminal composers and musicians who were then creating the new movement in Brazilian music that would be come to be known worldwide as "bossa nova". Later that same year, Oscar brought this "new touch" music to New York as musical director of the first bossa nova concerts presented at Carnegie Hall. He eventually settled in California, working with Sergio Mendes' band and composing scores for such films as 'Gabriela' and 'Blame It On Rio'. "Over the years Oscar has toured with our Consort many times, and he coproduced with me my albums COMMON GROUND and MISSA GAIA / EARTH MASS. Troubador and trickster, he is an irresistible catalyst in any musical situation. We so value his contribution to our music and to our lives that we long ago declared him an 'honorary life-member' of the Paul Winter Consort. It is an honor for the Consort and me to accompany Oscar on his debut album for Living Music. "   |  About Oscar Castro-Neves  |   BRAZILIAN DAYS, an album of bossa nova gems interpreted by Paul Winter and Oscar Castro-Neves