32. Skyness
This Second of Jazz post is about Dan Costa’s new album “Skyness”, that will be released in just a few days. Dan Costa initially studied classical piano for six years at the Académie de Musique Rainier III in the south of France and underwent further classical training at the Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice as well as at the Aurora Music Star Festival in Sweden. He was awarded a diploma with merit at Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in the UK. His strong interest in his Latin roots, coupled with his passion for jazz, led him to study at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo in Portugal, where he graduated in jazz piano. During his course, he was also awarded a merit grant to study Brazilian music at UNICAMP – Universidade Estadual de Campinas (São Paulo, Brazil).
In January 2016, Dan Costa recorded his debut album “Suite Três Rios” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with musicians such as Jaques Morelenbaum, Ricardo Silveira, Teco Cardoso, Rafael Barata, Marcos Suzano and Leila Pinheiro. One of the best albums of the year according to Down Beat Magazine. Two years after the release of his debut album, Dan Costa recorded “Skyness” at Arte Suono studios in Italy. It features US sax player Seamus Blake, Brazilian flute player Teco Cardoso, Brazilian bassist Jorge Helder and Portuguese guitarist Custodio Castelo as well as Brazilian guitarists Nelson Faria, Romero Lubambo and Roberto Menescal, one of Bossa Nova’s foremost composers.
Most tracks were written in the Cycladic islands in Greece. According to Costa, that's where he got his spiritual inspiration, although culturally it reflects his background, mostly Brazilian jazz, as well as some Flamenco and Fado. Costa has invited each of the musicians to play with him individually on the various compositions. With their unique sounds, they influence Costa’s music in unique ways. From a listener’s point of view, this gives the album a supplementary dimension. Each song has specific individual characteristics, and at the same time Costa brings a pleasing wholeness to the album.
“Skyness” will be released on October 7th.
