In the studio with João Martins & friends

(João Martins)

Yesterday I had the privilege to hang out at a recording studio in Copacabana with some very talented musicians. Composer, musician, and wicked banjo/cavaco player João Martins is recording his debut album with all original compositions from his own pen. Some of the tracks are "partnerships" with some very illustrious folks. I can't wait to tell you more about it, but since it is still early in the process, I cannot reveal too much. I hope to visit the studio a few more times as more guest musicians make their contributions to João's new album.


(João Martins/Dedé/Jorge Alexandre/Wanderson Martins/Lula Matos)

It was quite a samba-filled day. But it didn't start as early for me as it did for these guys who began at 9am... I ended up getting home at 3am the next day (today!).


(like father like son)

Around 11:30 am my cell phone rings and the caller ID says "João Martins" but it was Lula calling. He says "Cadê você rapaz! O bicho ta pegando! (Where are you? Untranslateable slang for "things are getting hot"]. So I get my lazy butt out packed with cameras to the next beach over. I arrived at the studio just after noon. I guess they were eager for me to come by and snap some photos (perhaps for the album jacket?).


(Jadir/recording engineer)

I stayed with the guys at the studio until 6pm as they recorded non-stop all of the base (not bass!) percussion and guitar tracks. João's father, producer/musician Wanderson Martins, was the maestro, who played the scratch cavaco track, while João sang along to guide the musicians. These tracks will later get replaced by polished takes, of course. After the first round, the guys recorded a second batch of percussion tracks.


(Lula Matos/tantam)

For the session João brought in a couple of the fellas from Galocantô. Be sure and check out my recent post on them here. Lula Matos played general percussion (repique/pandeiro/tantam) and Marcelo Correia played 7-string guitar.


(Marcelo Correia/violão 7 cordas)

To round out the percussion, the Jorges were brought in. Jorge Alexandre and Jorge André.


(Jorge Alexandre)


(Jorge "Dedé" André/pandeiro)

These guys are incredibly talented and I was very impressed by João Martins' compositions. I was already familiar with several of the tunes from hearing them played at the local sambas that these guys frequent. Some songs I didn't even realize were written by him, but thought were some older songs that I had never heard before! Especially since people are already singing his songs at these rodas. Such is the talent of this 23-year-old...


(Joãozinho)

There is something really sweet about how these guys look out for each other and spend all day in the studio to see João's album come to frution. There are many more guests yet to come to the studio to lay down tracks. Look out for the next post on JM!


(listening to playback - good results!)


(Marcelinho)

Since I don't have any of João's recorded music to share with you yet, I would like to add a song by the group Toque de Prima, of which Wanderson is the cavaco player and musical arranger. The group has several albums and its members include some of samba's most respected session players. Wanderson has also recorded and toured with heavies like Dona Ivone Lara, Roberto Ribeiro, Beth Carvalho, Zeca Pagodinho, and Martinho da Vila.


(Wanderson Martins/cavaco)

The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree...


"Tudo liberado" by Toque de Prima
from the album Se tem que ser, será (2000)

Abraço meu compadre João Martins!