'Bambas Dois' launches July 1 in Sao Paulo

Brazilians Eduardo 'Bid' Bidlovski and Gustah Sola came to Jamaica last October with 13 Brazilian rhythms, on a mission to match this music with a wish list of top Jamaican performers. Luciano, Queen Ifrica, U-Roy, Sizzla, The Heptones, Tony Rebel, Ky-Mani Marley, Jesse Royal and poet Oku Onura are among artistes who have recorded tracks on this cross-cultural, collaborative album.

excerpts from

'Bambas Dois' Further Links Jamaica, Brazil

By Mel Cooke | Jamaica Gleaner | October 4, 2010

"We realised there is a big similarity between Jamaican music and music from the north-east of Brazil," Bidlovski says. The difference in the sound comes mainly from the difference in the instruments. There is a distinctive element of that Brazilian region's rhythms on Bambas Dois, as Bidlovski said "we recorded the percussions of these rhythms from the north-east". Laid over that were the bass guitar and keyboards like Jamaican reggae, Bidlovski said, the result of the composite being "we got this mix where you have in it roots reggae, rocksteady and dancehall. When you listen to the beat you realize there is a twist".

The twist is deliberate, Bidlovski says while "we want people to feel that little reggae thing, we did not want to sound like a reggae band. We did not want to copy or imitate or replicate. We wanted to make a third thing, having the two styles and cultures. We were looking for a third thing, music-wise".

The Jamaican elements played a critical role in determining the assignment of artiste to rhythm. A maraca tu rhythm was chosen for Sizzla, as it has a strong dancehall element; Tony Rebel was asked to record on a rhythm with xaten and forro, due to its similarity to roots reggae; and the rocksteady similarity of a hastape rhythm was just right for The Heptones.

"The music is the connection, but we really want to bring the connection between the cultures," Bidlovski said, noting the shared history of slavery and similarities in food and dress. "I think this project will get across to the people," he said. "We are divided by the ocean, but the cultures are so similar." As Sola puts it, "the music can bring you together".

With Bambas Dois the stamp of musical authority lies with the much smaller Jamaica. "If it happens in Jamaica it will make the project legit," Bidlovski said.

For the original report go to http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101004/ent/ent1.html