Zona Sol
Nagel Heyer, 2004, CD
Instrument: Female Vocals
Issue: 10.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Latin
Performance: 4
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Zna Sul is the birthplace of bossa nova, the south side of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is also the name of a band dedicated to performing pure bossa nova with this being their debut release. The musicians are Tizian Jost (p), Pedro Tagliani (g), Sava Medan (b), Hajo Hadeln (d) and vocalist Sophie Wegener. There are 16 tracks in all, covers of classics written mostly by Jobim. Listening to songs like “Dans Mon êle” with the buttery rich vocals from Wegner makes you feel good. Zna Sul has recaptured the feeling that catapulted bossa nova into a globally recognized art form. They do it well enough to make us want to see them create some of their own compositions. Perhaps that’s next.