Trio + 1

This is the dialogue hidden between the silences of the notes. This is what makes Trio + 1 such an utterly
memorable record. LATIN JAZZ NETWORK

Trio + 1 provides a fabulous journey and shows how today’s Brazilian music goes far beyond your
father’s bossa nova. ALL ABOUT JAZZ

The public experienced all of the sensations in a state near that of nirvana, enchanted by the glowing sound. JORNAL GRANMA

CD TRIO + 1

The CD Trio + 1 was released in November of 2009 first by the North American label Adventure Music and then in Brazil by Núcleo Contemporâneo. The album has six tracks between choros, Brazilian songs, and themes composed by Benjamim Taubkin and by Joatan Nascimento.

Playing with this ensemble feels like arriving somewhere cozy its a new departure point for me as a musician. Rarely have I felt such a common sense of identity, or has direction come so naturally, as it has with this group. This album was recorded live, in three days. Each day we worked on two songs, recording three takes each. The take that made it to the disc was the one that best showcased the sound of the whole group. The project began as we played a few concerts, and little by little, we began to recognize a unique language that had emerged. This language established our style of play, which involves a lot of spontaneous creation and more elaborate pieces. Benjamim Taubkin

1. O Deserto é aqui The Desert is here (Benjamim Taubkin)
2. Pérolas  Pearls (Jacob do Bandolim)
3. Baianinho Baianinho (Joatan Nascimento)
4. Sabiá Vôou Sabiá flew (Benjamim Taubkin)
5. O circo chegou Circus arrived (Benjamim Taubkin)
6. Consolação Solace (Baden Powel e Vinicius de Moraes)

Listen “O circo chegou/Circus Arrived”:

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TRIO + 1

The trio – piano, bass, and drums – was one of the most traditional popular musical formations of the 20th century. This far-reaching formation presents certain challenges: while its language became more sophisticated and evolved, it also became diluted and banal.

The challenge, therefore, is to experiment and create a Brazilian sound from this succinct, yet amply used formation. Renowned musicians Benjamim Taubkin (piano), Sérgio Reze (drums) and Zeca Assumpção (double bass) are up to this challenge. Three years later, the “+ 1” comes to add his
acclaimed trumpet and flugelhorn.

The project aims to search for elements from the classical tradition, from the diversity of Brazil’s culture, and from what arises from within their own dialog. Another challenge – and inspiration – is to stay attempt to the equilibrium between premeditation – the composed work and arrangement – and improvisation. Not quite in the language of jazz… more along the lines of experiencing the collective composition with the possibility of exploring new roads that depart from the personal experience of each musician.

The result is a sophisticated, Brazilian sound with ample breathing room to balance arrangements with the adventure of improvisation. Its repertory consists of choros, Brazilian songs, and original compositions by Benjamim Taubkin and Joatan Nascimento.

In 2009, the group released its first album in the US by Adventure Music and in Brazil by Núcleo Contemporâneo.
They have been performing in prestigious festivals and venues in Brazil, as well in Cuba and Uruguay.

www.nucleocontemporaneo.com.br/projects
www.myspace.com/triomaisum

Musicians

Benjamim Taubkin – piano
Brazilian music has been the playing field for this instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and producer. He has participated in several formations, ranging from solo work to symphonic orchestras – presented in Brazil and abroad.
In 1997, he released his first album A Terra e o Espaço Aberto, which was nominated by two important awards in Brazil: Sharp and Movimento. His current projects as musician and director include: the Latin American collective América Contemporânea, the Orquestra Popular de Câmara, the choro ensemble Moderna Tradição, his work with the traditional music group Abaçai and his jazz project Trio + 1.
In his solo career he recorded his second CD in New York at Fazioli Salon, one of the most prestigious piano house nowadays. With this work, Benjamim has been performing in important venues and festivals, such as The Vortex Jazz Club, in London, and at Ruta del Cister, in Spain. And he did in 2009 an artistic residence in Austria, invited as composer and instrumentalist in Krems.

Zeca Assumpção – double bass
The bass player studied music, arrangements and composition at Berklee College of Music, in Boston. He has performed or recorded with the most prestigious artists in Brazil, such as Nelson Ayres, Joyce, Wagner Tiso, Elis Regina, João Bosco, Elizete Cardoso, Chico Buarque, Edu Lobo, Michel Legrand, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Toots Stileman, Benny Carter, Dorival Caymmi, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jaques Morelembaum, among others. Zeca is the founder of the project “Grupo Um” with Lelo Nazário and Zé Eduardo Nazário. For four years Zeca worked with Hermeto Pascoal. In 1982, the national Jazz Society considered him the best bass player in Brazil.
He participated in Egberto Gismonti’s project for more than 20 years. And has recorded several albums and performed in many tours around the US, Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Sérgio Reze – drums/percussion
Graduated with distinction by the Musicians Institute in the US, the percussionist Sérgio Reze, since his return to Brazil has performed and recorded with artists such as Mônica Salmaso, Paulinho da Viola, Zélia Duncan, João Bosco, Dominguinhos, Orquestra Popular de Câmara, Arnaldo Antunes, Ney Matogrosso, Ivan Lins, among others.
His drum performance is highlighted by its pronounced identity, where he amplifies the edges of the instrument, using different tones. In 2001 he was nominated as best instrumentalist in the Visa Award.
He has been performing in Europe and Latin America. Currently, he also works with artists such as Ná Ozzetti, Dante Ozzetti e Ceumar; José Miguel Wisnik; Benjamim Taubkin, Zeca Assumpção e Joatan Nascimento (Trio +1); Ana Luiza; Arthur Nestrovski and André Mehmari.

Joatan Nascimento- trumpet/flugelhorn
With a background coming from street bands and popular and traditional groups, he also stands out as a symphonic musician and member of the Symphonic Orchestra of Bahia since 1989.
Graduated in trumpet at Federal University of Bahia, he is currently attending PhD course at the same institution.
For years he has performed with prestigious popular musicians such as Carlinhos Brown, Caetano Veloso and Daniela Mercury; and build a consistent career performing or recording for many projects in Bahia.
In 2001 he was regional curator for Itaú Cultural project Rumos.
Celebrating 20 years in 2002, he recorded the album Eu choro assim, released by Maianga, which brings choro themes written specially to the trumpet. Awarded three times with the Troféu Caymmi, he was nominated in 2003 to the TIM Music Award in the revelation category.