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 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.
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.”
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.”
