Gig review/ Jim Porto - bossa nova



By Narendra Kusnur

Concert: My Brazilian Suingue
Artiste: Jim Porto
Genre: Bossa nova
Details: Tata Theatre, January 22
Rating: ****

 The transition was so smooth that the Tata Theatre audience was taken totally by surprise. After four balladsy, romantic numbers, Brazilian bossa nova artiste Jim Porto went into dance mode, and everyone clapped in chorus. Congadrums, timbales and shakers maintained the rhythm.

Now settled in Rome, Porto has been a regular visitor to India for the past two years. Besides gigs in Goa and New Delhi, he performed at the NCPA International Jazz Festival in 2018. His style is rooted in traditional 1960s bossa nova, the Brazilian genre blending jazz and samba, but towards the end of the show, he did improvised versions of Latino-dance hits.

Saturday’s concert, titled My Brazilian Suingue, lasted two hours and there was no intermission. Besides playing piano, Porto sang brilliantly, displaying perfect pitching. His dancing was a treat to watch too, and he never showed signs of tiredness or hitting a wrong note.

The band consisted of some immensely talented musicians. Percussionist Robertinho Bastos was subdued in the beginning, but came alive on the faster pieces. He played like a magician on a solo portion featuring a tambourine-like frame drum, literally juggling the instrument.

Trumpeter Francesco Fratini played both the solos and accompanying parts well, and was in great form on ‘Arborway’, a tune originally recorded with the legendary Chet Baker in Porto’s 1984 album Rio. Daniele Basirico doubled up on bass and cello, Gianni de Crescenzo was on keyboards and Mauro Salvatore played some brisk passages on drums.

Of the tracks, ‘My Country’ was a dedication to Brazil's natural beauty. ‘Minha Praia’, the title track of Porto’s latest album, had a smooth lilt. The show ended with three numbers that had the crowd clapping and singing along. The uptempo gem ‘So Nice’ was followed by the Sergio Mendes classic ‘Mas Que Nada’. For the encore, Porto chose ‘O Brazil’, a club version of which was popularised by the Vengaboys. A perfect ending to a grand musical evening.


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