Gal Costa and Romero Lubambo at Blue Note (11/9 through 11/12)

GAL COSTA & ROMERO LUBAMBO DUO

Brazilian megastar vocalist Gal Costa returns to the Blue Note with guitarist Romero Lubambo for a set of duo concerts from November 9 – 12. Costa’s key musical role in Brazil’s politically charged Tropicalia movement made her an international superstar. Today, she continues to push the envelope with new recordings and projects. Lubambo, also from Brazil, is known all over the world for his work as a member of Trio Da Paz, as a soloist, and with countless musicians from a variety of genres. Together, Costa and Lubambo are sure to explore the worlds of Jobim, Chico Buarque, and others whose compositions Gal has recorded and popularized with her original and signature sound.

WHEN: Monday, November 9 – Thursday, November 12, 2009; Sets @ 8pm & 10:30pm
WITH: Gal Costa, vocals; Romero Lubambo, guitar
COST: $55 @ table / $35 @ bar
WHERE: The Blue Note; 131 W 3rd. St, New York, NY 10012

Doors open at 6pm. There is a $5 food/beverage minimum.

Gal Costa at Blue Note

BIO: GAL COSTA is an awarded singer with an extensive solo discography and international experience. A fundamental presence in the Tropicalia movement, she has been in Brazil’s leading team of singers for decades. Since very young, she has been involved with music as a singer and violão player; when her mother’s business broke she became a record shop attendant, where he spent long hours listening to music, especially João Gilberto. She became acquainted with Caetano Veloso in 1963, and friendly disputed him as boyfriend with her girlfriend Dedé, who would later be Caetano’s wife. In 1964, Caetano was invited to organize a Brazilian popular music show at the opening of Salvador’s Teatro Vila Velha. The show, called Nós, por Exemplo, brought Caetano, his sister Maria Bethânia, Gilberto Gil, and Costa (still under her name Maria da Graça). The show was a success and was re-enacted two weeks later, with the addition of Tom Zé (still presented as Antônio José). The success was even bigger, and the group (without Tom) soon presented another show, Nova Bossa Velha, Velha Bossa Nova.

In September 26, 1965, the group opened the show Arena Canta Bahia, at São Paulo’s Teatro de Arena. At the end of that year, she was taken to the presence of her idol João Gilberto, who asked her to sing while he accompanied; after listening to her on several songs, he declared, “Girl, you sing beautifully. Someday I will return to record an album only with you.” Also in that year, she appeared on Bethânia’s first album, singing “Sol Negro” (Caetano Veloso).

Costa continued to be a viable and active artist in the 21st century, issuing new recorded material even as repackaging of her previous work hit the market. 2006 saw the appearance of Gal Costa Live at the Blue Note from DRG.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1955, ROMERO LUBAMBO studied classical piano and music theory as a young boy. From the time he played his first notes on the guitar at age thirteen, he devoted himself to that instrument. Lubambo graduated from the Villa-Lobos School of Music in Rio in 1978, an outstanding student of classical guitar; and, in 1980, received a degree in mechanical engineering from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro.

The rhythms and melodies defining Brazilian music and American jazz fascinated Lubambo. He taught himself through intense research and practice, developing exceptional skill, versatility and fluency in both jazz and Brazilian idioms. In 1985, Romero left Brazil for New York, where he became very much in demand, not only for his authentic Brazilian sound, but also for his command of a variety of styles. After reconnecting with fellow Brazilians Duduka da Fonseca and Nilson Matta, their impromptu sessions eventually led to the formation of Trio da Paz, a Brazilian Jazz trio widely recognized for their innovation, creativity and dynamic intensity.