Bossa Blue takes you back to the whisky soaked juke joints and jazz clubs where The Blues first found the subtle pulse of Bossa Nova. This extraordinary group of musicians rearranges contemporary, classic rock and jazz standards with the influences of cool jazz, Bossa nova, soul & blues that delivers a dark and smokey retro lounge vibe that will stir up your body and caress your soul.
Bossa Blue is the vision of award winning songwriter and band leader Brad Cole. A veteran of the Chicago music scene and current resident on NYC, Brad has 5 studio albums under his belt. His 2016 release Lay It Down has received critical acclaim: No Depression Magazine says "Lay It Down masterfully takes listeners from the familiar spaces of reflective, lyric-driven folk music to the expansive reaches of bossa nova jazz. It's a beautiful album." Since 2010, Brad has toured constantly across the US sharing the stage with the likes of such talented musicians as Chris Stapleton, James Hunter, Ingrid Michelson, Shovels & Rope and Dave Davies of The Kinks.
Cole says, "I grew up on jazz and over the years, I became a total bossa-phile". "The idea re-arranging and playing some of my favorite rock/soundtrack-of-my-life tunes into a jazz/bossa construct feels like a natural progression for me as an artist, and its really fun." The blues elements in the set are just where I come from as a person, so again, going through my jazz collection with the idea of delivering basic and raw interpretation of these tunes is like hitting the jackpot for me". "This band is a true collaboration and we're always looking for great soloists to sit in."
NEW!!!!! Bossa Blue presents: A Tribute to the James Taylor Songbook
An entire set of James Taylor songs re-imagined and re-energized! Bossa Blue combines Latin rhythms, jazz, dub, rock and soulful blues along with intriguing vocal interplay to create their unique and intoxicating grooves.
"The James Taylor Songbook is a treasure chest of gems and I'd put his songwriting in the same class as Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer, not to mention the 'A list' of his contemporaries. I decided to perform the JT songbook for a few reasons, primarily because these songs are so rich in melody and structure and, because there are so many classics. The fun and/or challenge here is not to deliver the "James Taylor" version of his tunes, but to update each composition and performance in a compelling way with this extraordinary group of musicians. Each tune has found its own blend of Bossa Nova, Samba, Jazz, Rock and Soulful Blues, all rich with vocal interplay and groove. Personally, the James Taylor set feels like an important body of work but, just as importantly, it is a lot of fun to perform."
