Day by Day [IMPORT]

Bet.e & Stef

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 2002)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B00006RG7P
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,918 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
By assimilating, and evolving the music of Brazil's bossa nova originators, Canadian duo Bet.e & Stef has soared from performing in clubs and bistros in Montréal to performing in Japan within a three -year span.

Bet.e & Stef's singular take on Brazilian rhythms resulted in their striking 10-song debut CD, "Jazz/Bossa Nova" in 1998. Produced by Stef and Marc Dessaulles, it featured such bossa nova favourites as "So Danço Samba," and "One Note Samba."

Self-distributed and without even an issuing-label name, the CD has been an unparalleled success. Sales of jazz albums in Canada--for either international or domestic acts--rarely top 10,000 units. "Jazz/Bossa Nova," however, has soared to "gold" status (50,000 units), with sales primarily in Québec.

"That's never been done by an indie jazz band in Canada," says Bet.e "People just keep asking for it. They respond to the sincerity of it. There's a freshness and naiveté there. The songs are beautiful, and it sounds like two young cats just singing their hearts out."

From age 16, Stef played guitar in jazz and rock bands in Montréal. At 21, he traveled to Paris for four years to study vocal jazz, piano, and arranging. During his time there, he became attracted to the city's Latin music scene, and fell in love with the works of Brazil bossa nova's elder statesmen, Bahian singer/guitarist João Gilberto, pianist/arranger Antonio Carlos Jobim, Toquinho, and poet/lyricist/ diplomat Vinicius de Moraes.

Returning to Montréal —"I needed to go back to my roots and see my friends"—Stef then performed for two years with a band on the local club circuit.

Growing up in Trois-Rivières, Québec, in a musical family, Bet.e went to college in Montréal to study psychology, and then communications. She dabbled in theater, had a radio show on CIBL in Montréal, and studied modern dance for several years. When she decided to become a singer, Stef helped her by recording tapes of vocal exercises for her to do. He also introduced her to bossa nova.

"I fell in love with bossa nova," recalls Bet.e whose musical roots include '60s-style R&B. "I just immersed myself in the language, rhythm, and styles. I was bowled over by how beautiful this music was."

Bet.e & Stef's first engagement together happened when Bet.e's sister asked them to perform at her wedding. But it would be a year before the pair started performing regularly together, opting instead to build up their repertoire, work out arrangements for the songs and practice the Portuguese sounds, as well as their singing together as a duo. Several gigs in restaurants and private parties helped cement their partnership. In short time, the duo became a fixture in Montréal's lively lounge scene.

Bet.e adds, "Our relationship works because we both love bossa nova, jazz, and music in general. Also, our voices blend well together and the bond we’ve developed grows stronger every day."

Product Description
The very character of Bet.e & Stef's new album "Day By Day" is its intimacy and timelessness. Despite being complex and witty overall, its music feels natural and universal. Primarily produced by Bet.e & Stef with producer/arranger Michel Pépin, who has worked with Rufus Wainwright, and Emmy Lou Harris, it features gentle and reserved guitar by Stef who has a smooth precise voice; Bet.e's wonderful velvety vocals; and sparse, tasteful accompaniment.

"We try not to clutter up the songs," explains Bet.e. "We are with the 'less is more' approach. Pauses speak just as much as the notes and make listeners appreciate what's coming."

Adds Stef, "We're trying to stay timeless with our music."

The album features a body of superb originals including the title track "Day By Day," as well as "All is Well," "I'm There," "Wish You Well," "Lying Game," "Listen To The Night," and "It's Over."

About the song "Day By Day," Bet.e says, "The chorus' lyrics, 'Strength is not a stranger, I take it day by day,' represent our philosophy quite well."

Adds Stef about "All is Well," "I wrote that song with all my love to my newborn son. It marked the debut of my new life as a father."

There are outstanding covers of Brazilian repertoire including: "Zana," and Regra Tres," both written by pioneering Brazilian singer/guitarist Antonio Petti Filho, known as Toquinho; "Vagabond," originally sung by French vocalist Henri Salvador; and " Só Tinha de Ser Com Você," penned by Antonio Carlos Jobim, one of Brazil's most creative musicians.

"We rearranged 'Zana' considerably" says Stef. "It was already a party song. We took it one step further by adding modulation, and Bet.e sings it with a R&B feeling."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, February 1, 2004

By	Vranjo (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews

To the traditional bossa nova meal, this duo adds a dash of North American pop sensibility, a teaspooon of traditional jazz vocalization, a pinch of "world music" eclecticism, and even an extra dash of humor every now and then. What comes out of the oven is an album that some purists might dismiss as inauthentic, but this criticism could not be further from the truth. These musicians have taken the bossa nova spirit and have made it authentically their own. Like all the best bossa albums, this one is playful, heartfelt, and achieves an amazing alchemy of warm and cool. If you're not an experienced bossa listener, you may not even initially notice the little innovations on this album, and will soon be tapping your foot to the sheer bossaness of it. As for longtime lovers of the genre, I think that if you listen to this album with an ear for this century instead of the last one, you will enjoy it as much as I do, and will appreciate the fact that this duo is helping to keep the genre not only alive, but also growing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just gets better with repeated listening, September 6, 2003

By	"jonfink" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

I first heard this group on a United Airlines audio compilation of recent Canadian pop music. It took a while to track down, and the price was rather steep, but the CD was instantly accessible and enjoyable. It has yet to become stale after dozens of listens. The combination of Brazilian, French, and Spanish influences contributes to the freshness. The voices are smooth and the background instrumentals bounce along with clear rhythms and catchy beats. An all around winning album that is difficult to not get excited about.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cannot Miss, December 20, 2003

By A Customer

My favourite Jazz genre. Awesome sounding and arrangement. Best bossa nova I've ever listened to.