Djavan heads to Boston

Djavan Heads to Boston
For Show At the Orpheum
Sunday, June 8 at 7:30 pm
Tickets on Sale April 10 @ 10 am

Charismatic, passionate and romantic are some of the adjectives attributed to Djavan, the renowned singer, composer and guitarist from Maceió (state of Alagoas), Brazil. His music mixes elaborate melodies, subtle rhythmic textures and patterns influenced heavily by the Brazilian folkloric tradition as well as by African music.

Djavan and his band will perform at The Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Place, Boston on Sunday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at $50, $45, and $30 go on sale April 10 at 10 am at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, on line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 617/508-931-2000.

Djavan’s new CD, Matizes was released in Brazil in 2007 and is about to be released in the U.S. along with a new, live DVD.

His band features Max Viana on guitar, Joao Viana on drums, Renato Fonseca on keyboards, Sergio Carvalho on bass, Walmir Gil on trumpet, François Lima on trombone (who played on Flora Purim's first Brazilian tour in the '80s), and Marcelo Martins on sax.
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Djavan's international success has taken him to the highest-ranking venues worldwide and his songs have been recorded by American artists such as Al Jarreau, Carmen McRae and the Manhattan Transfer. A long list or well-known Brazilian artists have also recorded his music: Gal Costa, Paralamas do Sucesso, Ed Motta, Leila Pinheiro, Chico César, Dori Caymmi, Nana Caymmi, Rosa Passos, Lenine, Elba Ramalho, João Bosco, Zélia Duncan, Leny Andrade, Chico Buarque, Daniela Mercury, Ney Matogrosso, Dominguinhos, Jane Duboc, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia, Beth Carvalho, João Donato, Joyce, Johnny Alf and others.

Djavan had early contact with music through his mother. From his musical home environment, he was well influenced by northeastern Brazilian folklore, but he only began to play music at 16, when he took up the violão as a self-taught instrument. Abandoning school, he had to work small jobs. Still in his hometown, he formed the group LSD (Luz, Som, Dimensão) which covered Beatles' repertoire. The group performed in every possible venue for pocket money.

Moving to Rio in 1973, he became acquainted with Edson Mauro, a fellow statesman who was Rádio Globo's sports announcer. Mauro presented Djavan to Adelzon Alves, who introduced him to Som Livre's producer João Mello. A month later, he was hired by Som Livre as a singer for soap opera soundtracks. In this capacity, he would record the songs "Qual é" (Marcos and Paulo Sérgio Valle) for the soap opera Ossos do Barão, "Presunçosa" (Antônio Carlos and Jocafi) for Super Manuela, "Calmaria e Vendaval" (Toquinho and Vinicius) for Fogo sobre terra, and "Alegre Menina" (Dori Caymmi and Jorge Amado) for Gabriela. He also participated in several hit-parade records, recording other composers' songs.

Meanwhile, to fatten his meager budget, he worked as a crooner for four years at Number One and 706 nightclubs, before his breakthrough as a composer. Participating in TV Globo's festival Abertura (1975), he won second place for his song "Abertura." His first record came out four months later with the songs "E que Deus Ajude," "Um Dia," "Rei do Mar," and "Fato Consumado." One year after, he recorded his first LP, A Voz, o Violão e a Arte de Djavan, Som Livre, which featured "Fato Consumando," "E que Deus Ajude," "Pára Raio," "Maria Mercedes," "Na Boca do Beco," "Ventos do Norte," "Magia," "Muito Obrigado," "Maçã do Rosto," "Embola Bola," "Quantas Voltas dá o Mundo," and "Flor de Lis." "Flor de Lis" became a big hit which endures even today.

A while later, he did a solo show at the 706 nightclub for three months. He recorded a single arranged by João Donato with songs "É hora" and "Romeiros" and left Som Livre for Odeon. He then recorded Djavan (1979), Alumbramento (1980) and Seduzir (1981). In 1982, he signed with CBS and recorded Luz in the U.S. This release was produced by Ronnie Foster, Through CBS he made contact with Quincy Jones, who acquired the publishing rights of many of his songs through Djavan's own publishing Luanda. Stevie Wonder was a guest star on that album.

In 1984, he recorded Lilás with production help from Eric Bulling, whose international sound can be heard on that album. In the same year, he worked in the film Para Viver um Grande Amor (Miguel Faria, Jr.). He also recorded Brazilian Knights and a Lady in 1985, Meu Lado in 1986, Não é Azul mas é Mar in 1987, and Bird of Paradise in 1988. In 1989, he recorded Djavan, accompanied by flamenco guitar player Paco de Lucia on the track "Oceano," which was included in a major soap opera. He followed with Puzzle of Hearts in 1990, Coisa de acender in 1991 which featured a collaboration with Caetano Veloso on "Linha do Equador" and Novena in 1994.

In 1996, Djavan recorded Malásia. From this recording, Tom Jobim's "Correnteza" was included on a prime time soap opera and in 1998 he recorded Bicho Solto O XIII. In 1999, he recorded Ao Vivo a double CD which sold 1.2 million copies and garnered him his first Diamond Record. For this release, he was also awarded three Multishow prizes: Best CD, Best Show and Best Singer. These awards were won through popular vote of the Multishow cable channel’s viewers.

For the recording series Talento Brasileiro, Djavan was lauded with three Lumiar Songbooks for having had his songs performed by Gal Costa, Paralamas do Sucesso, Ed Motta, Cláudio Zolli, Ângela Ro Ro, Leila Pinheiro, Garganta Profunda, Chico César, Dori Caymmi, Nana Caymmi, Rosa Passos, Rosana, Orlando Morais, Lenine, Paulinho Moska, Elba Ramalho, João Bosco, Zélia Duncan, Cidade Negra, Sandra de Sá, Leny Andrade, Chico Buarque, Daniela Mercury, Ney Matogrosso, Dominguinhos, Jane Duboc, Zé Ricardo, Personagens, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia, Beth Carvalho, João Donato, Daúde, Joyce, Johnny Alf, Eduardo Dusek, Be Happy, Fátima Guedes, and Clara Sandroni.

In 2000, Djavan won a Grammy® for Best Brazilian Song for "Acelerou" at the first Latin Grammy® Awards.