Don 'K' Subaru presents 'Evening in Rio: A Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim'

Even though it’s been 50 years since its founding, bossa nova, or ‘new wave’ music, is still making a splash.

Don “K” Subaru and Singer & Simpson Productions will put on their fall concert series, an Evening in Rio, to honor bossa nova music and its founder, Antonio Carlos Jobim.

The concert series, “Evening in Rio: A Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim,” will take place Oct. 3, at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts; Oct. 4, at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center; and Oct. 5, at the Whitefish Lake Resort. Each concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re trying to recreate the excitement of the time, and the new style of music,” said Miriam Singer, co-orginizer of the event. “It’s great, beautiful music, and we want to keep it alive.” 

SOME PEOPLE say that Antonio Carlos Jobim was the George Gershwin of Brazil. Like Gershwin, Jobim contributed a huge repertoire of beautiful songs, elevated his music to the concert hall and symbolized his country to the rest of the world.

In the late 1950s, Jobim founded what is today known as bossa nova music in Brazil. With its white sand and fresh ocean breezes, the country inspired musician him to play with the beat of the samba, and slow it down to create a seductive sound. He then added the lyrical influence of European classical music and the harmonies of American jazz, mixing all the styles together to create something completely unique. Nothing like it had been heard before, and the new style took off around the globe. The poet Vinicius de Moraes wrote lyrics to fit the enchanting music, and created hit after hit of beautiful bossa nova music.

“Bossa” was a slang word from Rio, used often in the 1930s to describe something done with originality, charm and flair, but came to refer to a trend or fashion in the 1950s. “Nova” in Portuguese means ‘new.’ Bossa nova was a new wave, but it became so popular throughout the world, it was more like a tsunami. 

IN 1964, Stan Getz collaborated with João Gilberto for the album “Getz/Gilberto”, using many songs by Jobim on piano. The album won the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year, and one song, “Girl from Ipanema”, won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The song became an international hit, and boosted bossa nova to become an international sensation.

“Girl from Ipanema” had been rerecorded hundreds of times since by various artists, making it one of the most covered songs in history.

This tribute band performing in the Evening in Rio is modeled on this album and the Jobim/Getz/Gilberto band, with four Brazilians and an American saxophonist.

“We’ve come as close as we can to recreating that original band and sound,” Singer said. “They’re all extremely accomplished musicians.”

The band’s saxophonist, Scott Hamilton, emerged in the 1970s, carrying on the tradition of Ben Webster and Zoot Sims. He moved to New York city from Rhode Island, joined Benny Goodman’s band and backed singer Rosemary Clooney. Hamilton’s tenor sax style is big and warm, and inclined to swing, much like Stan Getz.

Pianist Helio Alves came to the U.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music. In Boston, he met trumpeter Claudio Roditi, with whom he’s recorded. He toured extensively with Joe Henderson and was featured on his 1996 Grammy winning recording “Joe Henderson’s Big Band.” In 2003, he was the pianist on Yo-Yo Ma’s Grammy-winning releases.

Guitarist Romero Lubambo moved from Brazil to New York City in 1985. He tours with Dianne Reeves and has performed with Diana Krall, Herbie Mann and Wynton Marsalis.

Bassist Nilson Matta also moved from Brazil in 1985. He’s performed with Joao Gilberto and Luis Bonfa. Matta also worked with Yo-Yo Ma who said, “Nilson is a virtuoso bass player.”

Drummer Duduka Da Fonseca has worked with Antonio Carlos Jobim, who said, “Duduka is a fantastic drummer...I love the way he plays.” Duduka has also performed with Astrud Gilberto, Nancy Wilson, Slide Hampton and Kenny Barron. 

COME ENJOY a celebration of the great Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and the thrilling bossa nova. The event is a fundraiser for the Steinway Fund in Whitefish, which provides a grand piano for the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are available for all three nights online for $25-$32. Dinner can be purchased separately for the performance at Whitefish Lake Restaurant. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit SingerandSimpson.com or Tix.com or call 730-2817.