A Personal Reflection
Jazz connected with me in a way I never expected
How the melodies of jazz captured my heart and enriched my life
I love all kinds of music. I think it is silly to stick to one style or artist — every moment has its ideal soundtrack.
If I am on the beach, I will probably listen to some reggae. In my moments of relaxation, give me my progressive rock. A barbecue with friends calls for samba. Hip-hop, metal, R&B, Brazilian styles, among others, all have their moment for me.
And of course I love to discover new music. The pleasure of discovering a new melody or feeling something new through a song is unique. And then you are immersed in your new discovery and its ramifications for weeks.
With the advent of streaming services like Spotify and YouTube, access to musical productions from anywhere in the world is easier than ever.
Yet, until recently, I had never delved into jazz. Of course, I had heard a thing or two. I had also had the pleasure of watching the wonderful Pixar film Soul. But I had never really delved into the bowels of the genre.
I don’t remember the exact trigger for this, but I decided to get to know the style better. My journey began with the classics. Spotify generally does a good job of curating playlists of the classics of a genre, and that’s where I started.
It was a passion from the first listen: I felt transported to places I had never been and to years I had never lived in. I was enchanted by the voice of Billie Holiday and the genius of John Coltrane.
But the more I listened, the more I felt a certain familiarity, as a Brazilian, present in some tracks — names, places, sonorities, accents.
Songs in the voice of Astrud Gilberto, with compositions by Tom Jobim, the guitar of João Gilberto and the saxophone of Stan Getz. I didn’t know the history of bossa nova, let alone its connection with jazz.
Bossa nova is a musical sub-genre derived from samba, with strong American jazz influences. It began on the tropical beaches of Rio de Janeiro in the late 1950s as jazz grew in popularity.
Bossa nova’s twin figureheads are Antônio Carlos Jobim (Tom Jobim), a gifted composer also blessed with classic good looks, and João Gilberto, a guitarist and singer who came to Rio from the poorer Bahia region.
THE JAZZ HISTORY TREE
As a great lover of Brazilian music, this discovery was a factor that led me to get even closer to this musical style. All that was left was to experience a pleasant evening in a jazz club, just like in the classic American movies.
One of the advantages of living in a global city like São Paulo — the fourth largest in the world — is that you can find everything, including excellent jazz clubs. Its vastness also bears a certain resemblance to New York, the birthplace of many renowned jazz clubs.
I easily invited my wife and my parents — the latter being more difficult to get out of the house on a Saturday night — because I felt it would be an event to please everyone. Our destination was right in the center of town.
We settled into our table, ordered some snacks and drinks, and waited for the band to arrive. It was a different environment than anything I was used to. Even though I specifically chose a place that wasn’t fancy (I don’t like all that fancy stuff), the people exuded a natural class.
As the musicians arrived and checked their instruments, I felt a little anxious. What if I don’t like it? My father is really hard to please, what if he doesn’t like it? My mother is already getting sleepy, what if she sleeps?
All these thoughts disappeared the moment the music began. I forgot the thoughts and could just enjoy the sound next to the ones I love the most. I closed my eyes and once again transported myself to other scenarios and other times.
That place had become one of my favorites.
And jazz was also taking its place as one of the soundtracks of my life.
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