Mônica Vasconcelos Release 6th Album!

1st Feb 2008

Mônica Vasconcelos

with special guest Robert Wyatt releases 6th album 'hih'

She also announces London show:

on Friday, 8 February 2008

The Vortex Jazz Bar

11 Gillett Square, London N16 8JH

t: 0207 254 4097

Friday, February 8th @ 8.45 pm

"I'm so happy to be on this record. It's great when an opportunity like this arrives unexpectedly: for Alfie, to help work out some lyrics when you wanted to sing a couple of songs in English. And for me, to be allowed to come along and join in with this brilliant bunch of musos. And mostly to celebrate the arrival of this beautiful vocalist to our shores, bringing us the dance and the deep song of Brazil. Thank you Mônica, from us both." Robert Wyatt

Fifteen years ago Mônica Vasconcelos arrived in the UK from Brazil. With a background that included singing in tough São Paulo bars and recording with old sambistas, not to forget her part in a nationally successful a capella group, she soon fell in with some of London’s best musicians. Mônica has since performed at many of the UK’s world-class venues and has also been the chosen support for Brazilian icon Gilberto Gil, as well as Joyce, Airto Moreira and, of the Brits, Brian Ferry and Courtney Pine.

To date she has released 5 critically-acclaimed albums. These present her unique voice in both self-penned and classic standards of Brazilian repertoire. Her 6th and most recent is hih and it has, at its core, her long-time friend and co-conspirator, Steve Lodder (of Andy Sheppard fame) on keyboards, plus Dudley Phillips on bass and Adriano Adewale on percussion.

hih also includes two mixed-language collaborations with the eccentric legend of UK pop, Robert Wyatt. For her part, Mônica sang lead vocals on the focus track, “Just As You Are”, from Robert’s recent and very well-received album ‘Comicopera’ and on hih Robert returns the favour with two intensely personal songs (“Out Of The Doldrums” and “Still In The Dark (You’re Not My Sunshine)”, both co-written with his partner, Alfie Benge, and Dudley Phillips for the former and Steve Lodder the latter.

But really this is Mônica’s album. Recorded in Brazil and the UK, singing mainly in Brazilian-Portuguese and surrounded by one of her most sympathetic musical units yet, Mônica Vasconcelos brings a unique vision to one of the world’s most popular, popular musics.

Mônica’s 6th and most accomplished album yet
Featuring Robert Wyatt as co-writer and on backing vocals
Critically-acclaimed and with a unique vision, Mônica is a compelling performer of one of the world’s most popular musics – Brazilian ‘MPB’

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