Studies In Bossa

2011 release. Studies In Bossa is the debut album from one of Brazil's most exciting young solo-artists, Raf Vilar. A beautiful bossa inflected record that showcases Vilar's classic songwriting flourish and modern spark. The latest addition to Far Out Recordings's growing stable of new Brazilian talents Rafael Vilar fits in perfectly with bossa-influenced close friends Sabrina Malheiros and Clara Moreno. On Studies In Bossa, Vilar moves between Portuguese and English vocals through tracks that evoke the great bossa nova, folk and samba of '60s and '70s Brazil whilst incorporating global jazz and electronica. Recorded with musician friends in London the relaxed atmosphere allowed Vilar's beautifully unhurried songs to flourish. Producer and bossa nova enthusiast August Jacobsen, best known as Hunsley & Guz and resident DJ at some of London's biggest clubs such as Fabric and The Egg, provided the electronic elements especially present in Solidao, which mixes synthesizers with the accordion. That zestful quirky edge comes out through the album with the sounds of toys, books, keys and coins in the pocket blending perfectly with more traditional instrumentation. Studies In Bossa draws on many of the singer-songwriter's influences; as diverse as Jewel and Tom Waits's folk; samba from Noel Rosa; and original bossa nova from Joo Gilberto and Chico Buarque. Raf's love of jazz came from his uncle Ivan Conti who is the drummer for Azymuth, hence his eventual link to the label. Inspired by a childhood close to the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Raf now lives in a bohemian warehouse in Brick Lane, London. Although in his early 20s the maturity of the song-writing on tracks such as Entao Ve, a pure bossa in which he sings about making the most of life's opportunities, shines through. On Por Um Amor Qualquer, he uses raw samba as a perfect album opener to introduce his sound before taking these studies in bossa through the harmonica-led folk of So No Ar; the simple beauty of acoustic guitar and soft vocals on Perfeito; and Amargo Amor, infused with fado from the Portuguese ancestry of Brazil. With this recording Vilar is unveiled to an international audience. Until now undiscovered, the quality and beauty of these recordings is undoubted: a rare nu-bossa star has arrived.