Bossa nova (bossa) is a type of music that has become a part of our lives as stylish background music in cafes, general stores, and other places.

" Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound, " scheduled for release on May 27th, is a two-disc compilation album featuring 30 carefully selected tracks from Della's bossa recordings (recorded between 2015 and 2016).

To mark the release of this album, we spoke with Kazuo Yoshida, the sound producer of these recordings and a pioneer in the Japanese bossa nova scene, about what inspired him to become interested in Brazilian music, the appeal of bossa nova, and how to enjoy it.

The path to bossa nova began with ohayashi music

I have loved rhythm instruments since I was a child, and even played the musical accompaniment at festivals in my hometown (Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture).

When I was in high school, I started listening to late-night radio music programs influenced by my older brother who loved jazz, and one day I heard a different rhythm than usual...I found it very interesting and wondered what it was.

Looking back, these were some of the finest bossa nova recordings that remain classics to this day.
So I started listening to a lot of bossa nova and its roots, the samba, and I felt a similar feeling to the music I used to play as a child.

After that, I thought, "Okay, I'll give it a try!", and started learning drums in college. As I listened to a lot of records and learned in my own way, I became fascinated with Brazilian music.

When Brazilian musicians were just starting to come to Japan to perform, Jorge Benjor, who composed "Mas Que Nada," came to Shibuya in 1972, and I flew out to see him. I was so happy that I approached him and had a chance to talk.

In terms of my own performance activities, I had the opportunity to perform with visiting musicians at a bossa nova restaurant in Akasaka that had just opened at the time, and I also performed at the long-established Sasshiperere in Yotsuya, which I believe were major catalysts for deepening my interactions with Brazilian musicians.

At the time, I had my own band called "Spick & Span." At the time, there were still few Japanese bands playing Brazilian music, so when musicians visiting Japan invited us to perform together, we matched perfectly (because we enjoyed playing and practiced).

This then spreads to other musicians, and the circle of interest expands.

Through repeated exchanges with Brazilian musicians

I have been involved in around 200 Brazilian recordings so far, and I have many fond memories of the Brazilian artists I have worked with during those recordings.
Roberto Menescal, who I became friends with while performing with him in Japan, was also the person who helped me with my first Brazilian recording (1987).

Another impressive performer was pianist Fernando Merlino, who also performs on " Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound ."
I first met him when I was asked to record a cheer song for the J-League when it first started.

Fernando's arrangements are very interesting and his performances are excellent.
My meeting with Fernando was also triggered by my meeting with Roberto Menescal, which I mentioned earlier.

It's such a joy to be able to connect with people like this.

The Charm of Bossa Nova

Bossa nova, which means "new trend" in Portuguese, is a musical style that was born in the late 1950s by young Brazilian artists (João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, etc.) as a new style at the time that incorporated jazz and classical harmonies with roots in samba.

From the performer's perspective, the appeal of bossa nova is that it seeks freedom within a framework.
For listeners, the rhythm and sound are pleasant, and even though there are vocals, the soft tone that ends with Portuguese vowels means that it doesn't get in the way as background music.

Nowadays in Japan, it is often heard as background music in cafes and general stores, and has become a part of everyday life.

Creating a good atmosphere on set

The recordings included in " Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound " are a collection of recordings from 2015-2016.
At the recording site, we were running on Brazilian time, so there were times when the morning start time and lunch break were running late, which made us a little nervous, but by making effective use of that time and backing up the data, I think we were able to do a very relaxed and good recording within the limited time we had.

Reliable pianists

The main arrangement is a piano trio.
The three main pianists, Adriano Souza, Fernando Merlino and Philippi Baden-Powell, are very reliable.

Adriano's piano playing has a slightly hard, crystalline touch that is very appealing.
Filippi comes from a musical family, with his father being guitar virtuoso Baden Powell and his younger brother also being a guitarist, so he has a very high musical talent.

The other, Fernando Merlino, was someone I'd known for many years and who understood my needs very well.
Not only was her sound and rhythm stable, she also had a good knowledge of jazz and her singing of melodies on the piano was wonderful.

To put it simply, even a boring song becomes much better when he covers (arranges) it.
In that sense, he was a very reliable person.
Sadly, Fernando passed away in 2021. I am still grateful to him.

Memorable Take

"Mashu Ke Nada - Sho Vi Shuva - How Wonderful", featured on the second disc of Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound , is one particularly memorable track.

It's a medley of songs that every Brazilian musician knows.
Naturally, they could play without looking at the sheet music, so I left the arrangement ideas up to Fernando.

As a result, they gave us a wonderful performance, just as we had hoped.
You can really feel the fun they had, and it was one of the takes I was able to record in a very relaxed manner.

Bossa Nova that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to jazz fans

When I produce the sound, I make sure to share the album concept and arrangement image with the musicians beforehand.

If musicians get too excited and their performance gets out of hand, it can completely distort the image of the original song, creating a difference in enthusiasm between the performers and the audience.

I always keep this in mind, especially when it comes to Della's albums, which are healing music.

I believe that " Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound " is a work that can be enjoyed as background music at home not only by bossa nova fans, but also by people who don't usually listen to much music.

It's easy to enjoy, but the performance is also wonderful, so I would recommend it to audiophiles and jazz fans alike.

Click here for the "Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound" product page>>>

-- Kazuo Yoshida says he dreams of going to Brazil again to hold a music event once the coronavirus pandemic is over.
We look forward to your continued success. Thank you very much. (Interviewer and photo: Della Production Department)

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Kazuo Yoshida
Born in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture.
He made his professional debut as a drummer at the Brazilian restaurant Corcovado in Akasaka.
Around the same time, he formed his own band, "Spick & Span," whose activities specializing in Brazilian music were highly praised among Brazilian artists visiting Japan.

As a producer, he introduced Ono Lisa to the world and produced over 10 of her first films.
He has also worked with Yoshitaka Minami, Joyce, João Donato, Wanda Sur, Carlos Lira, Kay Lira, Valeria Oliveira, and others, and has produced over 200 recordings in Brazil alone.

He currently leads bands such as "Toquio Bossa Trio," "PANDRUM," and "Brass Brazil!", and performs at jazz and Brazilian clubs in Tokyo.

In May 2022, he released a compilation album titled "Relax Cafe - Best of Bossa Sound," which features a selection of bossa nova recordings he has produced in the past.

Interview cooperation: Sasshiperere (Yotsuya, Tokyo)
https://www.saciperere.co.jp/