Two for Brazil

The name Two for Brazil has a double meaning: It signifies the group's two members -- Paulinio Garcia on vocals and guitar and Greg Fishman on saxophone and flute -- as well as their shared fondness for the music of Brazil. It's also a reference to the fact that most Brazilian songs are written in 2/4. Two for Brazil is an acoustic duo whose warm, intimate, direct approach recalls the legendary pairing of João Gilberto and Stan Getz, but they cover a wider range of material -- not just the familiar hits by Jobim, but Brazilian songs from the 1920s up to the compositions of the current pantheon: Djavan, Ivan Lins,Edú Lobo, Gilberto Gil, Luiz Bonfá, Toninho Horta, Chico Buarque, and Milton Nascimento. They explore the many styles of samba, as well as the baiao, bossa, and Brazilian waltz. Two for Brazil also embraces the classic jazz repertoire, including Gillespie, Coltrane, Parker, and Monk, an innovative blend that has brought them increasing visibility and acclaim. The group began on June 10, 1998, when Garcia and Fishman were separately invited to play together at a Getz/Gilberto tribute at the Chicago Cultural Center. Though they'd never met, their musical chemistry was instantaneous and people assumed they were already an established duo. They soon became one, going from Chicago clubs to sold-out audiences in China, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Japan. In 2001, they also performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival and, much closer to home, won "Best Jazz Entertainers 2001" at the Chicago Music Awards. The Brazilian-born Paulinio Garcia began his musical career at age nine as a radio singer, and first played drums, percussion, and bass. An award-winning composer, he recorded two CDs with his own band, Os Agitadores. After moving to the U.S. in 1979, Garcia switched to...