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Featured Project

Featured Project

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LEGACY AND ALCHEMY LLC introduces vocalist ALEXANDRA JACKSON on her debut music project titled: 

“Alexandra Jackson: Legacy & Alchemy"

 

Alexandra’s music album features performances by the late Miles Davis, the late Antonio Carlos Jobim, the late Oscar Castro-Neves, the late Al Jarreau, the late Dona Ivone Lara, and the late Rod Temperton, as well as by Ivan Lins, Carlinhos Brown, Banda Black Rio, The Jobim Trio (Paulo Jobim, Daniel Jobim and Paulo Braga), Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Hubert Laws, Siedah Garrett, Robertinho Silva, Larry Williams, Arthur Maia, Ricardo Silveira, Darryl Jones, Teo Lima, Armando Marcal, Marco Brito, Marcelo Martins, Jesse Sadoc, Orquestra Atlantica, Max Viana, Pretinho da Serrinha, Chris Walker, Darryl Tookes, Curtis King, Paulo Calasans, Marcelo Mariano, and Maestro Charles Floyd conducting The Bossa Nova Noites Orquestra.

The album was engineered by some of the world's great professionals: Erik Zobler, Danny Leake, Ed Cherney, Ricardo Dias, Guido Pera, Luther Banks, Steve Sykes and Rafael Sentoma ... in the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, New York, London and Atlanta.

The music album is honored by over a half dozen "final studio recordings" by some of the greatest music artists in world history.   

Album Concept

ALBUM CONCEPT

Alexandra Jackson: 

Legacy & Alchemy

The initial project of the company is a wide ranging music album that brings together great music icons and talents from both Brazilian and American music.

The project introduces a bright new international vocalist ... ALEXANDRA JACKSON ... presented in music and media productions that feature some of world's great music stars, songwriters, producers, and musicians.

These artists convened to collaborate on and present signature songs from Brazil music ... re-imagined in a way that immediately evokes the unmistakably unique spirit and soul of Brazilian music.

"Our Time Now"

2017 marks the 100th anniversary of Samba.  And, we have just passed the 50th anniversary of when Bossa Nova was the world’s most popular music. 

Now is the moment in time to honor the great Brazilian music legacy and to celebrate it's nexus to and place in the world's music.

History was witnessed ... The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics was that proverbial “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for Brazil music and its synergy with American Jazz to be reintroduced to 3.5 Billion people in the world ... the largest stage ever.

We captured that moment.

To place our effort in context, we refer to a quote often used by Bossa Nova co-founder ... the late Oscar Castro-Neves:

“All that remains of communities and civilizations ...

 

All that remains of their worth and dignity ...

Exists in the art they leave."

(William Carlos Williams)

And, in a note to Oscar and Legacy and Alchemy's Robert Hebert in 2012 ...

the great Ivan Lins perhaps best described this project:

... There are a lot of ideas, a lot of paths.

 

Yes, we have to say: ‘Sorry, Lennon, the dream is not over ...'

 

What I (also) can say is that everything is possible ...

My first suggestion is to put everyone to think (about) the music we are involved using 2 words:  

 

TOTAL MUSIC.

How you said ... not World Music; it’s a blend of Jazz, Brazil, ethnic, instrumental, sung, modern, gosh! ...

All directed to a well-done modern music.

Just to think ..."

Sample Tracks

"ALL ONE" 

reached top 20 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart

The memory of Oscar Castro-Neves is at the very soul of this project. Because of him … this project exists. Executive Producer and Producer Robert Hebert was introduced to Oscar in 2010. Oscar embraced Robert, and to a very large degree helped Robert complete a good part of his education about Brazil music. In fact, they were planning Oscar’s last 2 albums … when Oscar passed away in 2013.

 

When Robert’s company made its initial foray into China in 2012, Oscar contributed 2 songs to Robert’s soundtrack album which was created for Chinese media. One of the songs was “All One”, which Oscar recorded on his very last album in 2006. When it became time for this album … the first stop in Fall of 2014 was to Lorraine Castro-Neves. The idea was to complete some of the vision Oscar and Robert discussed from 2010 to 2013. It was decided that “All One” would be 1 of 2 songs to be recorded.

 

As “All One” was always intended as a duet, Lorraine (the lyricist) composed an additional verse for the song. Robert always heard this song as “something that sounded like Larry Williams and Al Jarreau. So, he (Robert) asked LARRY WILLIAMS to arrange and produce the song, with AL JARREAU himself starting the duet. The idea is that it sounds like an Al Jarreau song … until Alexandra joins. Then, Robert had the idea to get Oscar’s vocal recording from the 2006 album, and to get Oscar’s vocal into the song.

Darryl Jones and Robert Hebert in the Studio
Alexandra Meets Ricardo Silva
Robert Hebert and Ricardo Dias
Maestro Charles Floyd
Bossa Nova Orchestra
Darryl Jones
Teo Lima
Armando Marcal
Larry Williams
Larry Dunn from Earth, Wind & Fire
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ricardo-silveira
Marcelo Martins
Jesse Sadoc_edited
Kevin Spears
Curtis, Darryl T., Alex, and Chris W
Bossa Nova Noites Orchestra
Bossa Nova Noites Oquestra in Studio
Larry Dunn, Darryl Jones, and Vince Wilburn Jr.
Darryl, Alex, Curtis, and Chris

SAMBA 100 + 100!

November 27, 2016 marked the 100th anniversary of Samba -- which began with the release of "Pelo Telefone," the first music recording to widely contribute to the dissemination and popularization of the Samba genre.

Over the course of a year, Brazil honored a treasured part of its great cultural legacy with a series of wonderful celebrations about Samba's first 100 years.

 

On November 27, 2017, Legacy and Alchemy LLC with the support of the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro convened Rio's international community at the historic TEATRO RIVAL PETROBRAS in the Cinelandia area in downtown Rio de Janeiro.  We joined Brazilians in celebration of the end of the first 100 years of Samba, and helped to launch the next 100 years of Samba on its 101st birthday.

Our big night starred Alexandra Jackson with Brazil music legends: Dominguinho do Estacio and Arthur Maia, and emerging international Samba star Pretinho da Serrinha, with all star band that included Marcelo Martins, Jesse Sadoc, Aldivas Ayers and Joao Castilho

HONORING DONA IVONE LARA AND SAMBA

The 2nd and 3rd singles from the "Alexandra Jackson: Legacy & Alchemy" music album are "Sonho Meu" and "Força da Imaginação."  

The Legacy & Alchemy EP pays homage to the “legacy” of samba, now in its second century, with these 2 classics.  The songs contrast Jackson’s voice with that of 96-year-old samba grande dame and composer Dona Ivone Lara – creating an “alchemy” of the songs with the participation next generation samba star: Pretinho da Serrinha (a major collaborator of Seu Jorge, Maria Rita, Marisa Monte, Sergio Mendes, Roberta Sa, Marcelo D2, Lulu Santos, Dudu Nobre, Beth Carvalho, among many others, of whom Caetano Veloso says: “Pretinho has renewed the energy of samba”). 

We feel that our version of “Sonho Meu” signals the end of the 100th year celebration of Samba (1916 to 2016).  Composed by Dona Ivone Lara and Delcio Carvalho, "Sonho Meu" is one of Brazil’s most beloved songs.  First recorded in 1978 as a duet by Maria Betânia and Gal Costa, it was awarded best of year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly6Vq1-rMGs.  Dona Ivone Lara later recorded her own version as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62sy8HrruNI

 

The musicians in our version are Alexandra Jackson with Dona Ivone Lara and featuring Max Viana & Pretinho da Serrinha.

 

We feel that our version of "Força da Imaginação" signals the beginning of the next 100 years of Samba (2017 to 2117).  Composed by Dona Ivone Lara and Caetano Veloso, "Força da Imaginação" was originally recorded by Beth Carvalho in 1982 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrfbmcWH1og 

 

The musicians are Alexandra Jackson with Dona Ivone Lara and featuring Pretinho da Serrinha on vocals, percussion and cavaquinho, Max Viana and Ricardo Silveira's guitars (and Max's solo), Arthur Maia bass solo with vocalese, and Marcelo Carmargo Mariano on bass.  The music came out pure samba — with a funky Chicago influence.  As with “Sonho Meu”, Ms. Jackson lets Dona Ivone take the lead in her very last recorded performance.  In our minds, Dona Ivone’s appearance of course signal the “LEGACY” of this music, with Alexandra and Pretinho (considered part of the next generation of Samba) presenting the “ALCHEMY” of our musical vision. 

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Guest Artists
Ivan Lins

Ivan Lins

Ivan Guimarães Lins is a Latin Grammy-winning Brazilian musician. He has been an active performer and songwriter of Brazilian popular music and jazz for over thirty years. His first hit, "Madalena", was recorded by Elis Regina in 1970. "Love Dance", a hit in 1989, is one of the most recorded songs in musical history.

Jobim Trio

Jobim Trio

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Jobim https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Jobim https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulinho_Braga

Jesse Sadoc

Jesse Sadoc

Jessé Sadoc is a trumpeter Brazilian, professor at the School of Music Villa-Lobos and recordings, arrangements and extensive collaborations with various classical and popular musicians. He is a member of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro and holds a degree in music from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He played for some time in the bands of the singers Ed Motta, Djavan, João Donato, Ginga and João Bosco.

Marcelo Gives a Little Bass_edited_edited

Marcelo Gives a Little Bass_edited_edited

The bassist Marcelo Mariano was born in São Paulo, SP in September of 1967. Son of the Pianist and arranger Cesar Camargo Mariano and singer Marisa Gata Mansa, always lived with musicians, composers and singers, having the opportunity to base their music choices listening to the best and most important national and international. Very soon he revealed his extreme musicality and his growing admiration for the bass guitar, would consecrate him as one of the most important bass players in Brazil.

Marcelo Martins

Marcelo Martins

Born in Niterói, saxophonist, flutist and arranger Marcelo Martins began his flute studies at age eight in the Institute Orchestra Abel, in Niterói. He studied music theory at the Conservatory of Music of Rio de Janeiro State with Professor Maria Isis, while doing private lessons with flutist/sax Renato Franco. In 1985 he began his studies of Functional Harmony and Improvisation with Professor Sergio Benvenuto, the Berklee method.

Andre Siquiera

Andre Siquiera

Paulo Calasans

Paulo Calasans

Born in Jundiaí, SP, Paulo Calasans is a self-taught piano musician and considered one of the most respected Brazilian musicians. He played piano and keyboard with Djavan between 1988 and 2001, and he also performed in the production of six albums recorded by Dja in that period. In this video, he talks about what Djavan and he have in common: "We like beautiful sounds." Watch it!

Bossa Nova Noites Orchestra

Bossa Nova Noites Orchestra

Charles-Floyd

Charles-Floyd

Born in Chicago, conductor, pianist, and composer Charles Floyd began studying piano at age four, gave his first solo recital at age nine, and by age twenty had been heard in solo recital, chamber music and concerto performances throughout the United States and Spain. His mentors include pianists Joseph Schwartz, the late Aube Tzerko, Howard Karp, Lee Luvisi, and Misha Dichter. As a conductor, he has been heard in concert with more than 500 orchestras since 1991.

Siedah Garrett

Siedah Garrett

Siedah Garrett is an American singer and songwriter, who has written songs and performed backing vocals for many recording artists in the music industry, such as Michael Jackson, The Pointer Sisters, Brand New Heavies, Quincy Jones, Tevin Campbell, Donna Summer, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson among others. Garrett has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 50th Grammy Awards for co-writing "Love I Do."

Ed Cherney

Ed Cherney

Ed Cherney is an American recording engineer and record producer based in Los Angeles, California. Over his career, he has earned two Grammy awards, three Emmy Award nominations, and five TEC Awards. Cherney is also known within the film world for his work on A Mighty Wind, The Bourne Legacy, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Danny Leake

Danny Leake

Guitarist Danny Leake was a Chicago recording studio mainstay in the '60s and '70s. An in-demand session player while still in his teens, Leake can be heard on numerous records that date from those times. Leake eventually expanded his talents by becoming a much sought-after live sound and studio recording engineer.

William Magalhães

William Magalhães

Banda Black Rio are one of the most important Brazilian bands in history. Formed in Rio de Janeiro, 1976, the group pioneered the soul-funk movement in Brazil led by renowned saxophonist Oberdan Magalhães. As global stars of the politically charged Black Rio movement, emerging almost a decade earlier from the Soul Brasileiro genre, BBR brought together Rio’s black funk scene to rally against repression, a conservative record industry and white middle class press, to mobilise disenchanted black B

Marco Brito

Marco Brito

Marco Brito is a Brazilian keyboard specialist and music arranger. He has won 2 Latin Grammy Awards in 2005 (Album of the year and Best MPB Album). He has worked with Ivan Lins on several albums and will continue to exercise his talents for Legacy and Alchemy.

Larry Dunn

Larry Dunn

With his funky keyboard playing, Larry helped transform Earth, Wind & Fire into one of the all-time most successful R&B bands in the world, with sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide, 6 GRAMMYs, 13 GRAMMY nominations, 4 American Music Awards, 32 Gold & Platinum/Multi-Platinum Records & Albums, a Star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame, induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (2000) and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2010) as well as other industry awards.

Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy® Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide.

The Late Antonio Carlos Jobim

The Late Antonio Carlos Jobim

Jobim's place in the annals of popular music was secured by a single hit song, "The Girl from Ipanema" (1964), which he co-wrote with lyricist Vinícius de Moraes. His creative contributions to jazz, however, went much deeper; many of his songs became jazz standards, and, in the words of Richard S. Ginell of the All Music Guide , "Every other set" performed in jazz clubs "seems to contain at least one bossa nova."

Daniel Jobim

Daniel Jobim

The son of guitarist Paulo Jobim and the grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim ... Daniel has recorded and performed alongside artists such as his legendary grandfather Tom Jobim, and other greats such as Dorival Caymmi, João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Carole Bayer Sager, Donald Fagen, Chico Buarque, Gal Costa, Maria Bethania, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Stevie Wonder and Sting.

Darryl Jones

Darryl Jones

Darryl’s career catapulted when he landed the gig with the legendary Miles Davis in the early ‘80s. Jones held down the bass chair in the trumpeter’s band for two years, touring and supplying the bass tracks on Davis’ Decoy and You’re Under Arrest albums. Having Miles Davis’ name on his resume opened up many doors for Darryl, who went on to perform with Sting, Madonna, Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel and many others.

Curtis King

Curtis King

Curtis King - singer and songwriter - is an amazing vocalist, with a versitility that is rare. His repertoire includes Pop, R & B, and Jazz, and he has developed a uniqueand personal style of vocalization, a sound that is African and Asian inspired, often using body percussion - creating a world vibe, or a personal language that speaks to so many.

Robert Hebert

Robert Hebert

"The Mastermind. The Top Dog. The Head Honcho. The Godfather (you're welcome, Robert). Those are just some titles that have been thrown around for Robert the past three years. He's one man who's done the work of twenty people, while holding me accountable for my roles the whole way. Robert and I did “prep” work for Legacy & Alchemy almost a year before solidifying our direction. The recordings have taken almost 2 years. -- Alexandra Jackson

The Late Miles Davis

The Late Miles Davis

"Miles Davis – legendary trumpeter and bandleader, explorer of unknown musical paths and enduring icon of hip – would be celebrating his 90th birthday this year had he not departed in 1991. Yet by all measure his sound and stature is more alive than ever. The news of a major musical collection covering twenty years of historic live performances, and a full-length motion picture have already begun to generate headlines and other major media attention.

Dona Ivone Lara

Dona Ivone Lara

Ivone Lara, or Dona Ivone Lara as she is respectfully known in Brazil, is one of the prominent ladies of samba, having been the first woman to ever fight gender prejudice in the samba schools. She was the first woman to parade at the Ala dos compositores, a masculine ala, becoming then the ala's madrinha.

Arthur Maia

Arthur Maia

Arthur Maia began to play the drums when he was still a child. At 15, he took up the electric bass. After becoming a professional in the '80s, he accompanied artists like Jorge Ben Jor, Gal Costa, Ivan Lins, and Gilberto Gil. Recorded with Ney Matogrosso (Olhos de Farol), Lulu Santos, the Spanish singer Rosana Arbelo, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso (Tropicália 2).

Oscar Castro-Neves

Oscar Castro-Neves

Few musicians in the world today can boast a career that reflects a lifetime of accomplishments as diverse, rich and acclaimed as those Oscar Castro-Neves has achieved. Renowned as a composer and arranger for his sophisticated harmonic concepts and the exquisite texture and color of his orchestrations, he is equally well known for his distinctive guitar style and as an accomplished record producer who has worked with dozens of major artists in a wide range of music genres.

Hubert Laws

Hubert Laws

Internationally renowned flutist Hubert Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm-and-blues genres; moving effortlessly from one repertory to another. He has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta, with the orchestras of Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Amsterdam, Japan, Detroit and with the Stanford String Quartet.

Teo Lima

Teo Lima

Teo Lima (Teófilo Pereira Lima) (Maceio, AL, December 28, 1948) is a drummer, producer and Brazilian composer. He began playing trumpet, before migrating to the drums, its main instrument. In the early 1970s, he played with Djavan. Even in the 1970s formed, with Sizão Machado and Luiz Avellar Band Sururu Capote, who accompanied Djavan.

Armando Marcal

Armando Marcal

Brazilian born percussionist (b. 1956), son of Mestre Marçaland grandson of Armando Vieira Marçal. Sometimes credited as Marcalzinho (Zinho is Brazilian slang for guy, fellow or chap). Not to be mistaken for his father, Marçal, also percussionist, that played with Luna (11) and Elizeu from 50s to 80s. He started playing on sessions at 16, and in the 70s played on Paulinho Da Viola's band.

Al McKay

Al McKay

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1948, Al McKay grew up to be a successful guitarist. In 1972, he joined Earth, Wind & Fire, becoming a core member of the band as its mix of pop and R&B melodies started to reach audiences. After years of success, he left the group in 1980. A five-time Grammy Award winner, McKay has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Orquestra Atlantica

Orquestra Atlantica

Marcelo Martins was born in Niterói, saxophonist, flutist and arranger Marcelo Martins began his flute studies at age eight in the Institute Orchestra Abel, in Niterói. In 1989, he was invited by singer and songwriter Djavan to join his band, participating in the recording and six artist albums tour. In 1999, he participated in the North American tour of the singer and composer Gilberto Gil and integrated Vittor Santos Orchestra.

Pretinho da Serrinha

Pretinho da Serrinha

Angelo Vítor Simplicio da Silva, known as Pretinho Serrinha. In 2013, at the age of 34, he founded his band, Black + 1 Trio, and it became a revelation. Everything happened so fast that Pretinho sometimes cannot believe it. That June, came the album Black Trio + 1.

Ricardo Silveira

Ricardo Silveira

Ricardo Silveira is a professional musician since 1976, playing live and in the studio with great names of Brazilian and international music. His name is present in the technical specifications of hundreds of disks as a musician, arranger, producer, or even musical director. And in 2014, his first album, "Good to Play" (Polygram), complete 30 years of launch.

Robertinho Silva

Robertinho Silva

ROBERTINHO SILVA, is without a doubt one of the most significant Brazilian artists of the last decades. His art is to play the drums. Since the start of his career, in the late 60's until today he participates on recordings and plays in concerts of some greatest national and international artists, besides recordings of his own, performances of his groups and workshops on Brazilian rhythms all over the world.

Darryl Tookes

Darryl Tookes

Exceptional facility, preternatural vocal range and expression make Darryl Tookes one of the few artists of his stature in the world today. Respected throughout the music industry for a distinguished career as a singer, pianist, composer and arranger on landmark projects with legendary music figures...

Max Viana

Max Viana

Max Viana was born in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1973 and is the son of Djavan. His musical influences include rhythms such as jazz, soul music, black music, MPB and flamenco. He dropped out of Economics to study at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles where he took classes with beasts like guitarist Scott Henderson.

Chris Walker

Chris Walker

Urban contemporary vocalist Chris Walker spent his childhood in Houston, playing gospel music. He moved to New York City, where he became Ornette Coleman's bass player for two and a half years. Walker then toured with Regina Belle, where he soon became musical director. When Belle noticed his fine voice, she gradually worked his vocals into her act; Chris Walker credits her for teaching him to find his voice.

Larry Willams

Larry Willams

Grammy-nominated producer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Larry Williams has performed, co-produced and toured with the greatest musical artists on some of the best-sellling albums and films in music history for over 35 years. Having studied classical and jazz on a scholarship at Indiana University, he is known for his proficiency on both keyboards and woodwinds (saxes, flutes and clarinet)

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