LANNY GORDIN
“Duos”
A TRIBUTE TO A GUITAR LEGEND
Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Arnaldo Antunes, Zeca Baleiro,
Jards Macalé, Chico César, Max de Castro, Vanessa da Mata, Adriana Calcanhotto,
Junio Barreto, Fernanda Takai, Edgar Scandurra, Rodrigo Amarante and Péricles
Cavalcanti teamed up for a tribute to Lanny Gordon
Here is an artist who deserves a tribute. Lany Gordin had a fundamental role in the
Brazilian pop music of the mid- 60's and 70's by playing his inventive guitar in most
of the best records produced at that time. Today, after an absence of almost 30 years,
he is back, with a new album: “Lanny - Duos” (a Barraventoartes/Universal Music
production under the direction of Glauber Amaral). In this new work he is very much
at ease in the presence of 15 artists of different generations and styles. The resulting
album raises an intriguing question: why on earth did Brazilian music have to spend
such a long time without him?
The story of this master of the guitar is as unique as his style. Son of a Russian pianist
and a Polish woman, Alexandre Gordin was born in Shangai, China, in 1951. His family lived
for some years in Israel before coming to Brazil in 1958. Self taught musician, at the age
of 16 he already played the guitar and bass guitar in a night club owned by his father in
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the city centre of Sao Paulo, the legendary Stardust, a place often visited by top notch
musicians such as Hermeto Paschoal and Heraldo do Monte.
In 1968, after having played in different rock and pop bands he had his big break.
He was introduced to the members of the new tropicalist movement and was soon
taking part in the records of Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa ( usually with
the arrangements of the irreverent conductor Rogerio Duprat) who were really shaking
the musical scenario of the time. The audacious impromptus of Lanny also attracted the
attention of artists of other musical groups like Tim Maia, Elis Regina, Jair Rodrigues
and Erasmo Carlos.
With a retrospective like that Lanny's talent crosses all age, groups, cultures and genres
and is appreciated by fans of different generations. The first track of “Lanny - Duos”
brings a tasty version of the song “ Lá vem o homem que matou o homem, que matou
o homem mau” (Here comes the man, who killed the man who killed the bad man),
composed by Jorge Benjor. It is a swingy recreation of Max de Castro's vocals and
guitar helped by Lanny's improvisation.
The new generation of Brazilian pop musicians is also present with Vanessa da Mata
who sings sweetly “Era você”(It was you). There is also Junio Barreto, who injects
some energy in the lyric ”Onde eu nasci passa um rio”( Where I was born a river flows),
written by Caetano Veloso.
Particularly special is the involvement of Caetano Veloso who donates his classic tropicalist
“Enquanto seu lobo não vem” (While the wolf doesn't come) with an original jazzy introduction.
The greatest muse of the tropicalist generation , Gal Costa, joins Lanny to emphasize
the beautiful melodies of Tom Jobin's “Dindi”. Gilberto Gil comes up with a rendition
of his old song:”Abre o olho”(Open your eyes), in a bluesy style. Jards Macalé appears
with his usual irreverence revisiting “Let's Play That”, his partnership with poet Torquato
Neto, another of the tropicalist leaders. The producer of the album, Pericles Cavalcanti
plays his reggae “Farol da Jamaica”(Jamaica's lighthouse), also in a bluesy style due
to Lanny's guitar.
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Rock people couldn't be left out of this album since they had an enormous significance in
Lannys musical career. Rodrigo Amarante from the band “Los Hermanos “ has contributed
with his warm ”Evaporar” ( Evaporate). Fernanda Takai, the vocalist of Pato Fu surprises
with a moving interpretation of “Mucuripe”, by Fagner and Belchior. To contrast with
Lanny's high pitched guitar phrases, Arnaldo Antunes comes in with his very low voice
singing “Sol” (Sun), which he wrote together with guitarist Edgar Scandurra - from
the Band Ira -who also shares the stage with Lanny in a sequence of tremendous
impromptus and rich deep flowing rhythm in “El Blues”.
Among the guest artists on the CD it is important to distinguish three top Brazilian pop
musicians that came to fame in the 90's: Zeca Baleiro singing “Dê um role” in a cooler version
compared to the original one by Gal Costa recorded in the 70's. Adriana Calcanhoto and Lanny
also avoid being over dramatic on the single “Me dê motivo” (Give me a reason), composed
by Sullivan and Massadas , a big hit of Tim Maia's. Chico Cesar ends up the duet series with
“Lanny, Qual?”(Lanny, which one?) a nice song that was written as a tribute.
And it is Lanny himself who finishes off the album with a soulful solo of Tom Jobin's
“Corcovado”, demonstrating all his refined harmonic sense with an interpretation never
heard before. What else could one expect from a genious?
The artists that were accompanied by Lanny talk about his skills:
Hermeto Paschoal: “I saw the birth of Lanny as a musician, playing his first notes back at
Stardust. All of a sudden he had learnt everything! It was amazing! Heraldo do Monte gave him
a great boost. Lanny’s father wanted him to play in too a commercial way, in order to make
people dance, but we convinced him not to do it. We waited until his father was gone and then
would join him to play in a more modern way. If his father would turn up we would quickly
change to that commercial style. (laughs) Lanny is a great musician. I remember seeing him
playing the bass guitar without ever having studied it. I am sure he hasn’t yet had the chance
to show all he can do, to bring out what he has inside him. I hope he will do it some day.”
Jards Macalé: “I was deeply touched when I first saw that boy playing. That was when Rogerio
Duprat invited him during the “Tropicalia” time. Then, when Caetano and Gil had to leave the
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country, in 1969, Gal Costa , Paulinho da Viola, Capinam and I opened a firm called
“Tropicarte” (Tropicart) and produced a concert in the Oficina Theatre. This gig had three
important characters: Gal, Lanny and me. That every day contact with him made me change
the way I played the guitar. Besides his great talent, he played in a very particular, extremely
rich way. I believe that he is the closest one to Jimmy Hendrix. He knew everything as far as
guitar playing of that time was concerned and he was also able to play like “Garoto”,
developing and improving the harmonies and melodies. Lanny is definitely one of the deepest
music souls of Brazil. Those who want to learn to play the guitar must listen to him.”
Chico Cesar: “Lanny Gordin is the top Brazilian guitarist. He was influenced by guitar
players like Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and Jimmy Hendrix but was also linked with the
music of the world from Bach to Luiz Gonzaga.”
Carlos Calado
Março/2007
* “DUOS” É UM
LANÇAMENTO DA
BARRAVENTOARTES
COM DISTRIBUIÇÃO
DA UNIVERSAL.
ASSESSORIA DE IMPRENSA
Bebel Prates
[email protected] - tel: (21) 3874 0544
Marcos Sassa
[email protected] - tel: (11) 3032 4801
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DISCOGRAPHY LANNY GORDIN
> LANNY GORDIN (solo) - 2001 - Baratos Afins
> PROJETO ALFA VOLUMES 1 E 2 - 2004 - Baratos Afins
Guest Appearances:
> BRAZILIAN OCTOPUS - Lp Fermata, 1969
> SUELY E OS KANTICUS, C/ KI BACANA E ESPERANTO - Compacto Simples Philips, 1969
> DE KALAFE E A TURMA - Rosemblit Sem Data
> GAL COSTA - Lp Philips, 1969 (including Não Identificado)
> GAL COSTA - Lp Philips, 1969
> CAETANO VELOSO - Lp Philips, 1969
> GILBERTO GIL - Lp Philips, 1969
> ANA MARIA & MAURICIO C/ NO NO NO ESTAMOS NA NOSSA - Lp Continental 1970
> LE GAL, DE GAL COSTA - Lp Philips, 1970
> CARLOS, ERASMO, DE ERASMO CARLOS - Lp Philips - 1971
> GAL A TODO VAPOR, DE GAL COSTA - Lp Philips, 1971
> JARDS MACALÉ - Lp Polygram, 1973
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