When a Latin Jazz artist creates a collection of music, there’s a bounty of interesting stories and ideas inherent in both the resultant product and the creative process. In most cases, the product - whether it’s a CD or MP3 download - becomes the thing most familiar to us. We listen to the tracks repeatedly, we analyze the improvisations, we enjoy the compositions, and it becomes part of our life. For most of us, the product is the only thing about the musical output that we can comprehend; it’s the only thing that the artist reveals about their musical concept. While liner notes, web site information, and interviews give us a peek into the musician’s mind, its all second hand information coming to us after the fact. The creative process contains the conceptual development, the spontaneous inspirations, and the hours of labor-intensive performance that shape the product. In many ways, the developmental process provides a more revealing look into the artist’s personality and gives us much more insight about the musical output. The more that we can learn about the process, the more that we can understand the intention behind the recording and the inspirations that drive the artist to create the music that becomes such an important piece of our lives. Strangely enough, the process is the piece of the music that as an audience we often miss

As both a creative process and a tangible product, Off & On, The Music of Moacir Santos from Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge, radiates with creativity, in-depth story telling, and an intriguing history. The story of Santos’ musical career provides a good starting point for both product and process; for many of us, Santos’ musical legacy represents an unfamiliar piece of the Brazilian musical world. In Brazil, Santos built a well-respected career as a songwriter, musician, and bandleader, while his foray into the music world of the United States resulted in marginal commercial success. The hippest stateside musicians became familiar with Santos and his work, resulting in some artistically interesting collaborations and the occasional cover of Santos’ many compositions, including the popular piece “Nanã.” Fortunately, one of the musicians that investigated Santos’ work was pianist Mark Levine. In addition to an in-depth study of Santos’ music, Levine performed with Santos in the 1960s and recorded with him on the Blue Note release Saudade. Decades later, Levine gathered a group of Santos compositions and arranged them into a serious Latin Jazz set for his group The Latin Tinge, a collective of some of the Bay Area’s best Latin Jazz musicians. The resultant recording sparkles with enthusiastic creativity, shines with professional performances, and remembers Santos with a fond respect.

The album will be released soon - you’ll be hearing about it here at LJC - but luckily for us, Levine had the good foresight to create a video that takes us into the creative process behind Off & On, The Music of Moacir Santos. You’ll get the inside scoop behind Levine’s experience with Santos and his connection to the body of Santos’ artistic output. You’ll hear from the Latin Tinge, and get their insights on the group as well as their perspectives about Santos. You’ll see the group live in the studio creating the tracks that eventually made it onto the album. You’ll get a preview of the music that you’ll hear on the album, so keep your ears open. It’s a must-see video that takes us into Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge’s creative process as well as lets us hear the music from their upcoming product. Enjoy!

The Making of Off and On, The Music Of Moacir Santos

Off and On, The Music Of Moacir Santos will be available soon. If you’d like to check out some more recordings featuring Mark Levine, here’s some starters:

Isla, Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge

Con Alma, Mark Weinstein

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Bay Area folks, you have the opportunity this week to check out Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge performing the music of Moacir Santos with special guest flautist Ali Ryerson. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience Santos’ music and check out this fantastic group. Here’s the details:

MARK LEVINE & THE LATIN TINGE WITH SPECIAL GUEST ALI RYERSON
Mostly Moacir
WHEN: Saturday 6/27/09
WHERE: The Jazz School
2087 Addison St
Berkeley, CA
TIME: 8:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $18

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Do you have a video to contribute to satisfy our weekly Latin Jazz video fix? If so, send it in - it’s time to feed our addiction. I’m looking for live performances, from any context. I’ll most likely be posting one video per week, but if you’ve got another idea, let’s talk. So come on Latin Jazz videographers, musicians, and fans - let’s share some of our memorable videos! Get my contact info HERE

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Check Out These Related Posts:
Musical Dynasties: The Valdes Family On Video
Holding Content Over Beauty: Emiliano Salvador On Video
The Ongoing Path Of Discovery: Chiemi Nakai, Carlos Del Pino, & David Eure On Video
Getting To Know The Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year Nominees

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