Music
Press
*DA Canada Eh!
Authentic and infectious Brazilian sounds....rich floating sambas and animated percussion and horns......proudly carries the torch of people like Baden Powell and Vinicius Morais.......
Rating: *****
-Andrew Sun - NOW
DA Cocada Canada Eh! (Dada Music DOMP 108 (1992); Canada)
Toronto-based septet Da Cocada has put together a consistently good set of Brazilian and Latin roots/pop. Nine of ten selections were penned by guitarist Bruce Jones, and most are catchy, tuneful compositions featuring Eliane Jones and atmospheric percussion, sax, and trombone. Includes a couple of classy instrumentals, too. (AR) - Dirty Linen
Cabo Verde Islands, West Africa-
Toronto-based worldbeat act DA joined Zaire's Kanda Bongo Man and more than 70 other international artists Aug.21-22 for the tenth annual Baia das Gatas music festival.
.....the festival...attracted about 30,000 people.......Da founder and composer Bruce Jones was well-suited for the festival-the quartet's current independant release featuresabout 70 percent Portuguese
lyrics over a blend of Brazilian folk music and North American jazz and rock. "The audience spoke the same language.." - Socan Probe
Da has become even more daring. The six-piece brainchild of Brazilian native Bruce Jones recently returned from his homeland bursting with new ideas. "There's so much going on there what's more and new, is how much of it is in cross-pollination......an incredible wealth of talent.....multi-instrumental players...
Da blows into the 360 Saturday to tape a show for an upcoming CBC radio special. - NOW
Mix a lot of Brazilian rhythms, afro-cuban, latin and traditional jazz improvisations, add soft dream like vocals, dynamic percussionists and a trombone to leader's Bill McBirnie on flute, alto flute and piccolo plus Bruce Jones on guitars, percussion, synth pads and vocals to produce one very lovely eclectic CD. Bruce Jones studied guitar in Brazil and plays like a native and Bill McBirnie is one of Canada's top flautists. Heavenly sounds abound throughout this fascinating journey from mid tempo, ballads to exciting rhythms mostly Brazilian with a touch of jazz or afro-cuban sounds. The appeal to listeners is extremely broad and of a relaxing nature. Highly recommended. (D.W.) - jazzcanadiana
Discography
2004 vaca malhada
2003 amazon dreams
1999 proyecto patagonico
1995 sarava criola
1993 canada eh!
currently i hear tracks from released cd's on cbc radio and jazz fm 91.1
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Composer, Musician, Producer. Artistic Director
Born and raised in Sao Paulo Brasil
Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
Academia Paulista de Musica. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Bruce has been responsible for the introduction of Brazilian music forms to the music scene in Canada for over 25 years. He has performed with Les Negresses Vertes, Zap Mamma, Djavan, Gilberto Gil, Parachute Club and Cesaria Evora.
His CD releases over the years have incorporated the skills of some of Canada's most proficient jazz musicians.
Bruce won third place in the John Lennon Songwriting contest for "Africa Feliz" in 1997.
He was the musical director of the large-scale (200-plus) samba band, G.R.E.S. Unidos do Canada, for seven seasons of the annual Caribana Parade in Toronto. The band, G.R.E.S. Unidos do Canada, also succeeded in winning "Best Traditional Ensemble" six years in a row. Bruce has been a band-leader and composer for the groups Cocada, and Da, very popular on the Toronto scene for many years.
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