Sometimes, there are excellent projects that don't have good disclosure. From occasional projects, focused on a single album/appearance, to musicians that don't have a way for make known your projects beyond their friends circle. This was one of main motivations for creating this blog, because I give myself the work of investigate carefully on the web about this kind of projects. One of this are the Atrium Jazz Band, the first brazilian gospel Big Band.
Atrium Jazz Band is a project originally from ABC Paulista, Brazil; that arises from the desire of a christian musicians, united by friendship and christian fellowship, to find their own musical language. Doing rehearsals and performances in the worship atrium of the church, they sought this language for three years, to finish with the release of their only recording: "Atrium Jazz Band" in 1996, an interesting gospel jazz album, which contain various arrangements of christian hymns, and original compositions of the band. No doubt that the genius of this brazilian band, is that using the format of traditional american big band, it converge gospel music with swing, bebop and different brazilian styles as bossa nova, samba, among others; and of course, without neglecting the influences of each musician. In words of flugelhornist, Sérgio Oliveira:
The apparent eclecticism was not intentional, but occurred naturally and represents, in a sense, our influences, our temperament, our excitement and experience.
In relation with the members of the band, Sérgio adds:
We had the privilege of having some very talented musicians, such as trumpetists Severo Raimundo de Oliveira known as Pelezinho, Raimundo Pires de Oliveira known as Quinzinho; saxophonist Sílvio Depieri, and drummer Lenilson Silva known as Simonal.
Websites of some musicians of Atrium Jazz Band
Trumpetist Quinzinho Oliveira: http://quinzinholiveira.com
Saxophonist Sílvio Depieri: http://www.myspace.com/silviodepieri
Keyboardist Willians Alves: http://www.myspace.com/willyprodutor
