Fellow Arranger Keyboardists:

I Just recorded another song today. This one's a Latin tune.

Song Title: Corcovado (Quiet Nights)
Composed by: Antonio Carlos Jobim

If interested in listening, go to my website:
Scott Yee Entertainment
then:
Go to the: "Song Demos" Page.
Scroll DOWN to: "Latin" Song Category (bottom right)
Go to: "Corcovado", then
Select: 'DSL/Cable' or '56K' version, to play in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format.

Wishing arranger keyboard playing joy to everyone.

Scott

Another Good 'un Scott - 'Antonio' can certainly produce some lovely chord sequences
Thanks for sharing your talent

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Willum

Great song and another marvelous rendition, Scott. Thanks for sharing.

The following may be rather long, but some of my SynthZone friends always enjoy knowing something of the writers of this great music. I had the joy of meeting Jobim when I lived in Brazil as a youth, before he was the sensation he is now. Here is a "brief" biography for you enthusiasts. If it is too long or dull to read, just delete it or skip it, but I thought some of you might like to know more about this great Brazilian composer.

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It has been said that Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim was the George Gershwin of Brazil, and there is a solid ring of truth in that, for both contributed large bodies of songs to the jazz repertoire, both expanded their reach into the concert hall, and both tend to symbolize their countries in the eyes of the rest of the world. With their gracefully urbane, sensuously aching melodies and harmonies, Jobim's songs gave jazz musicians in the 1960s a quiet, strikingly original alternative to their traditional Tin Pan Alley source.

Jobim's roots were always planted firmly in jazz; the records of Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Barney Kessel, and other West Coast jazz musicians made an enormous impact upon him in the 1950s. But he also claimed that the French impressionist composer Claude Debussy had a decisive influence upon his harmonies, and the Brazilian samba gave his music a uniquely exotic rhythmic underpinning. As a pianist, he usually kept things simple and melodically to the point with a touch that reminds some of Claude Thornhill, but some of his records show that he could also stretch out when given room. His guitar was limited mostly to gentle strumming of the syncopated rhythms, and he sang in a modest, slightly hoarse yet often hauntingly emotional manner.

Born in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio, Jobim originally was headed for a career as an architect. Yet by the time he turned 20, the lure of music was too powerful, and so he started playing piano in nightclubs and working in recording studios. He made his first record in 1954 backing singer Bill Farr as the leader of "Tom and His Band" (Tom was Jobim's lifelong nickname), and he first found fame in 1956 when he teamed up with poet Vinícius de Moraes to provide part of the score for a play called Orfeo do Carnaval (later made into the famous film Black Orpheus). In 1958, the then-unknown Brazilian singer João Gilberto recorded some of Jobim's songs, which had the effect of launching the phenomenon known as bossa nova. Jobim's breakthrough outside Brazil occurred in 1962 when Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd scored a surprise hit with his tune "Desafinado" -- and later that year, he and several other Brazilian musicians were invited to participate in a Carnegie Hall showcase. Fueled by Jobim's songs, the bossa nova became an international fad, and jazz musicians jumped on the bandwagon, recording album after album of bossa novas until the trend ran out of commercial steam in the late '60s.

Jobim himself preferred the recording studios to touring, making several lovely albums of his music as a pianist, guitarist, and singer for Verve, Warner Bros., Discovery, A&M, CTI, and MCA in the '60s and '70s, and Verve again in the last decade of his life. Early on, he started collaborating with arranger/conductor Claus Ogerman, whose subtle, caressing, occasionally moody charts gave his records a haunting ambience. When Brazilian music was in its American eclipse after the '60s, a victim of overexposure and the burgeoning rock revolution, Jobim retreated more into the background, concentrating much energy upon film and TV scores in Brazil. But by 1985, as the idea of world music and a second Brazilian wave gathered steam, Jobim started touring again with a group containing his second wife Ana Lontra, his son Paulo, daughter Elizabeth, and various musician friends. At the time of his final concerts in Brazil in September 1993 and at Carnegie Hall in April 1994 (both available on Verve), Jobim at last was receiving the universal recognition he deserved, and a plethora of tribute albums and concerts followed in the wake of his sudden death in New York City of heart failure. Jobim's reputation as one of the great songwriters of the century is now secure, nowhere more so than on the jazz scene, where every other set seems to contain at least one bossa nova. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide.

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Ted Rose (of Jaybird "fame"?)

Bill: yes Jobim was certainly a master of writing simple yet beautiful melodies over interesting chord progressions. There is so much beauty in simplicity. Bill, I certainly enjoyed meeting you at the SZ jam in Florida 2 years ago, and hope you're keeping yourself well in Merry Ol' England. Hope we can meet again at perhaps another arr keyboard jam.

Ted, many thanks for your kind words, as well as sharing your connection with Jobim, of which I assume included seeing him perform in Brazil? Thanks also for posting a good background biography on his life. Both music and life are all good. - Scott

Scott,

Very nice rendition of a fine song, my friend.

God and wallet willing, Bill and Rog have signed up for the 3rd Florida Jam in March 2007. We are expecting 35 and have 25 signed up, including a talented gent from your home state of California. We would love to have you join us.

cheers,

Fran in SC

Hi Fran, first of all, really happy you enjoyed my song. As far the 2007 FL jam goes, it's far too early for me to commit, but I'll definitely keep it in mind, especially knowing pals Bill & Rog (as well as of course you & Marge) will be there. btw: talked to my California buddy Frank Bez on the phone today, and encouraged him to (if at all possible) make the cross country trip next year as well. - Scott

Scott,

Frank Bez, Bob Hendershot and I were members of the OBI (Organ Buddies International) for a good many years. It would be an honor for Bob and I to meet Frank and for our group to share in his wonderful talent with the keyboard.

I keep my fingers crossed.

Fran in SC

Hi Scott. Finally got around to listening to your song with headsets. Couldn't hear it well when we were on the phone. Great job. It reminded me of one of my most all time favorites, Wave, which was written by the same man. Got out the sheet music for Wave and have been playing with it. It's written in the key of D and I have problems sight reading D and have to play it a couple of times to get it right.

Fran, I remember the days when those of us in the OBI group would all play the same song and send it to each other to see how many ways the song could be played. Frank was very active in exchanging sequences. Frank and I have traded our home brew CD's in the past. I really enjoy his work.

This forum could use some song trading. As time progresses there will be less need for technical discussion and music will keep it alive.

To all you who are located in CA & are/were members of the "OBI"......

Did any of you know ART CHENOWETH?.....In his final years he was my neighbor & mentor.....

ELIZABETH