KEY POINTS:
The release of the first New Zealand-produced album by Brazilian singing import Alda Rezende suggests she has not taken long to adjust to life here.
Rezende settled with her New Zealand partner a couple of years ago and, with her involvement in the Wellington Jazz Festival and OE:
Brazil project, she is fast becoming familiar on the capital's music scene.
Released this month through LOOP Recordings, her new album, Traveller, is a laid-back mix of jazz and lounge music which draws on music styles native to Brazil, but had input from both sides of the world.
"There are different rhythms and styles and I guess my album is mostly around those Brazilian styles that are not familiar to New Zealand," Rezende said. "But a foreigner might listen to it and not recognise it as Brazilian immediately."
The instrumental side of Traveller began in Brazil when guitarist Kristoff Silva made some recordings that were brought back to New Zealand.
Accomplished classical musician Jonathan Crayford added to the mix by playing a range of other instruments, and a couple of other Wellington musicians also contributed.
Rezende, whose musicianship is well known in her native country, said she liked to think Traveller was a musical mix that reflected the journey that led her to New Zealand after meeting her partner in Nepal.
"It's not really a Kiwi and it's not really a Brazilian - it's like a tourist or traveller," she said. "Traveller is the perfect name for the album."
Rezende did not need much convincing to return to Brazil a few months ago as part of the Bacardi B-Live project, which involved six New Zealand musicians going to Brazil to make an album with Brazilian counterparts.
Apart from her musical assignments during the trip (including collaborations on the OE: Brazil album), Rezende's familiarity with both cultures was a bonus for both parties.
Some of the Brazilian contingent were reunited with the six New Zealand ones this month in shows in Auckland and Wellington.
Rezende said she hoped Silva could also come to New Zealand further down the track to take part in some live shows following the release of Traveller, but was aware of the logistics involved.
"Basically it's a Brazilian guitarist who lives in Brazil, a musician who played everything else and a singer who did all the harmonies.
"So it will take a while, but we were hoping to do something in February or March," she said.
In the meantime Rezende will continue to juggle her music interests with a young son and suggests we will hear plenty more from her.
"I'm very keen on doing more work with other people and I would like to compose more," she said.
- NZPA
* Traveller is out now.
