When Baden Meets Trane was selected by Jazziz Magazine Jazz Critic's Picks for 2004 and appeared in their January issue.

“Glauco Sagibin. Brazilian jazz pianist, is extraordinary on this new CD. Especially on Jobim’s 'Olha Maria.' There are other delights here that meet the collective Brazilian ear, as you know translate so well in jazz.”
Dick Crockett, “The Voice” 88.7 FM - Sacramento, CA

"Glauco Sagebin is a new name to me. He comes from Brazil but his piano playing is more related to the New York scene. He really is a sensational pianist, more concerned with Modern Jazz, even though he retains his natural feel for Latin Jazz. He is joined by two equally talented players in Santi Debriano, a much experienced bass player, and the excellent Brazilian drummer Paulo Braga who drives the trio with his powerful playing. This is an exciting outing by an outstanding trio - terrific stuff."
Al Merritt - jazznow.com

"Glauco Sagebin's When Baden Meets Trane is a fantastic album!"
Randy Morse, Producer/Host, The Best of Brazil, KZUM 89.3 FM, Lincoln, Nebraska USA

"Hard bebop with a latino flair!!........Jazz pianist Glauco, & his very tight trio explore a few of the jazz idiom categories, i.e. bop, latin, avant-garde etc. We are immediately brought to the sense that this group trusts one another, as you hear the group taking chances with each other, while creating gainful & artistic musical motifs for our benefit.

"The group seems to know their music as well as they know themselves, as they transfer their emotions & improvisational energy to us, their listeners. This groups takes you to that place where there is no 'ego'.........namely, transcendence."
George W. Carroll/The Musicians' Ombudsman

"Although pianist Clauco Sagebin has dedicated this CD to the musical memory of fellow Brazilian Baden Powell and jazz master John Coltrane, the result is a very personal statement. Blending jazz and Brazilian song on five originals, he presents a warm-hearted yet coolly swinging sound. Ably accompanied by bassist Santo Debriano and drummer Paulo Braga, Glauco also offers his view of the work of other composers, including Antonio Carlos Jobim. Especially attractive tracks are Glauco's own 'When Baden Meets Trane' and 'Short Story', 'Fascinating Rhythm' and a limpid 'Laura'. Glauco is less well known internationally than should be the case, and this CD is a very good way to get to know him."
Bruce Crowther - The Encyclopedia of Popular Music/UK

"For Brazilian jazz fans looking for a solid contemporary remake of some familiar bossa nova standards mixed in with a bit of enjoyable fresh material, Brazilliance ought to fit the bill. But there are definite alternatives, namely When Baden Meets Trane by pianist Glauco Sagebin.

"Sagebin set out long ago to defy stereotypes – specifically, that Brazilian musicians can only hail from Rio and that they must confine themselves to samba or bossa nova. He cites Mahler and Coltrane as influences in addition to the music of his native Brazil. Unsurprisingly, at least one of them is evident on the title track, a superb hybrid that in Sagebin's own words employs 'the harmonic style of Baden Powell's Afro sambas full of diminished seventh chords, and on top of that… the cycle of descending major thirds' used by Coltrane. Drummer Paulo Braga kicks it off, then he and Sagebin circle around, eyeing one another suspiciously before bassist Santi Debriano assures them everything’s okay. They settle into a spicy, swinging stride, though the dramatic wariness between Sagebin and Braga will crop up again and again. The solos are more like a tangle of improv trios, all taking place at the same time with a few intermittent breaks for the individual players to shine.

"Two Jobim charts ('Olha Maria' and 'Luiza') bookend three originals as well as 'Nada Como ter Amor' by Carlos Lyra. There is also a frenetic rendition of the Gershwins' 'Fascinating Rhythm' and a moody, languid take on Johnny Mercer's 'Laura.' Among these Sagebin's bilingualism is always manifest. Whether reviving the music of his compatriots or the American standards of his current home, the pianist and bandleader is nothing short of expert. He comes to each one with a thoughtful, technically bold interpretation, though this sacrifices none of the requisite emotion, and in the case of bossa nova, the brooding, humble philosophising that gives much of the music its impetus and appeal. When Baden Meets Coltrane is an excellent disc: intelligent, engaging and full of nuance and flair. It should take pride of place when Blue Toucan is showing off its emerging line-up."
E.J. Iannelli - All About Jazz

Track list: (click on song title to hear mp3 excerpt)

  1. When Baden Meets Trane by Glauco Sagebin, Blue Toucan Music/ASCAP 4:23 
 
  2. Fascinating Rhythm by George & Ira Gershwin, Warner Bros Music/ASCAP 3:38

  3. Olha Maria by A.C. Jobim, C. Buarque, V. DeMorais, Ensign Music/BMI 3:40

  4. Short Story by Glauco Sagebin, Blue Toucan Music/ASCAP 5:38

  5. Earlier Departure by Glauco Sagebin, Blue Toucan Music/ASCAP 4:58

  6. Villa by Glauco Sagebin, Blue Toucan Music/ASCAP 5:52

  7. Nada Como ter Amor by Carlos Lyra, Vinicious De Morais BMG Muisc/BMI 4:06

  8. Luiza by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Corcovado Music/BMI 7:25

  9. Rio Negro by Glauco Sagebin, Blue Toucan Music 4:06

10. Pra Dizer Adeus by Edu Lobo & Torquato Neto, Warner Bros Music/BMI 5:26

11. Laura by Johnny Mercer & David Raskin, Warner Bros Music/BMI 6:31

Download Earlier Departure

Personnel:

Glauco Sagebin - Piano
Santi Debriano - Acoustic Bass
Paulo Braga - Drums

Produced by Glauco Sagebin
Assistant Producer: Paulo Braga
Executive Producers: Tony Spaneo & Carol Jannotte
Recorded and Mixed by Michael Brorby
Mastered at Sterling Sound by UE Nastasi

Liner Notes:

If pianist Glauco Sagebin had his choice for the ideal business card, it would say, “Glauco Sagebin, Brazilian Jazz Pianist.” That’s because, while he prides himself on being a Brazilian musical artist, he hates being confined to the stereotype of Brazilian musicians… that they “must be from Rio de Janeiro” and can only play samba or Bossa Nova music. He’s from the south of Brazil, Porto Alegre. For Glauco, his music goes further than any stereotype. Glauco grew up listening to all the music of Brazil, plus music from a wide range of outside sources, from Coltrane’s jazz to Mahler’s symphonies. Glauco began his professional career in São Paulo, Brazil as a studio musician and composer. In 1985 he won the Gramado Brazilian Film Festival Award for Best Original Soundtrack for Short Animated Film, one of the most prestigious awards in Brazil for cinema.

The first time I met Glauco was in Tokyo, Japan where we both lived in the 1990’s, Glauco playingmusic, and myself working on FM radio. I heard him with a band led by Babe Hanna, a singer/percussionist from San Francisco. In that band Glauco showed his total range of talents, from sensual ballads to straight ahead jazz and he always brought down the house.

Glauco’s intent on this CD is showing the product of an artist molded by both American jazz and Brazilian music, and he does that with his band members. Paulo Braga is the drummer and legend of the Brazilian musical scene, he is held in high regard by the top jazz players in America, Japan and Europe. Paulo has played with a wide range of well-known artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim & Joe Henderson. The bassist, Santi Debriano, first learned about music from his father. Since then, he has toured the world and worked with artists like Kenny Barron, Sonny Fortune and Archie Shepp.

         Glauco                       Santi                   Paulo

I asked Glauco to give me some background on the music in this CD. He began by talking about his 5 original songs:

" 'When Baden Meets Trane' is the one, in my opinion, that represents all those things I was trying to create, this hybrid of jazz and Brazilian song. What I used was the harmonic style of Baden Powell's Afro sambas full of diminished 7 chords, and on top of that I started to rearrange things using the cycle of descending major thirds (a composition technique often used by Coltrane). That's how I got that result. 'Earlier Departure' is my favorite of the 5. I have the tendency to write in 4/4, so I forced myself to write something in 6/4. I was pretty happy with the result.

" 'Short Story' is my attempt to write a jazz ballad (and is not to be confused with Kenny Dorham’s song of that title). As Paulo said, 'It seems like your classical side interfered with that.' I was happy because it sounded like an ECM recording date, very classy.

" 'Villa' As the name suggests, is a tribute to the Brazilian classical composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. 'Rio Negro' was composed with Paulo and Santi in mind, because I knew the sound I could get from them. The title is an afterthought. The nipping rhythm interaction reminded me of the infamous, wild Brazilian river with strong currents and dark waters full of Piranhas.

" 'Fascinating Rhythm' was the suggestion of Paulo Braga, when he mentioned to me that it was one of Jobim's favorites from the American songbook. I felt I was able to work some voodoo with Jobim in the studio, basically knocking it out in the first take. Actually, the majority of the selections are first or second takes. I always prefer to compromise with a few mistakes here and there and keep the freshness and spontaneity.

" 'Luiza' was my choice as a waltz for the album. 'Olha Maria' is one of my favorite Jobim compositions. Especially, with Paulo Braga around, I wanted to record a real bossa-nova track. 'Nada Como Ter Amor' by Carlos Lyra was my choice because it is so beautiful and not that well-known. 'Pra Dizer Adeus,' I thought, would be a great vehicle for Santi.

" 'Laura' was a suggestion from the executive producer and its one I dug a lot."

Hey Glauco, that works for me!

Rob Crocker (WBGO-FM)
New York City, 2003