Zé Renato sings partnership of Tom Jobim and Newton Mendonça

The singer Zé Renato takes the stage of the Manouche house, in Rio de Janeiro, next Friday, October 30, for a show dedicated to the partnership between Tom Jobim and Newton Mendonça. Accompanied by the Rio Conexão quartet, the artist will present a repertoire that highlights the importance of Newton as a fundamental partner of Tom. The presentation seeks to shed light on the work of Newton Mendonça, whose centenary of birth, as well as that of Jobim, will be celebrated in 2027.

Newton Mendonça, composer and pianist born in Rio de Janeiro on February 14, 1927, died prematurely at the age of 33, a victim of a heart attack, on November 22, 1960. His trajectory in Brazilian music is often compared to that of Vadico, partner of Noel Rosa: both gave essential contributions to the works of their respective partners, but ended up obfuscated by their fame. Zé Renato’s show, therefore, emerges as an opportunity to reevaluate Newton’s legacy.

Fundamental partnership in bossa nova

The professional paths of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Newton Mendonça intersected in 1952, in the carioca nightclub Posto Cinco. The following year, in 1953, singer Mauricy Moura had the primacy of releasing the partnership on record, with the recording of "Incerteza". From there, the duo composed a series of songs that would become classics of Brazilian music.

Among the highlights of the partnership is "Meditation", released in 1959 in the voice of Isaura Garcia. The music became a worldwide standard, alongside other hits of the duo. "Caminhos Cruzados", released in 1958, and "Discussão", from 1959, complete the team of classics, both presented on disc by the singer Sylvia Telles, considered the main interpreter of the duo.

Repertoire rescues lesser-known jewels

In addition to the great successes, Zé Renato's show should include other compositions of the partnership, such as "Foi a Noite", presented in 1956 by Sylvia Telles, and "Luar e Batucada", a more traditional and less famous samba, also released in 1956 by the same performer. The repertoire also includes "Brigas" (1958), "Blue Sunday of the Sea" (1961), "Lost in Your Eyes" (1959), "Só Saudade" (1956) and "Teu Castigo" (1956).

These songs, which transit between sambas, sambas-song and romantic songs, seem to be in fine tune with the lyrical soul of Zé Renato’s tuned and already fifty-year-old singing. The artist, known for his delicate and precise interpretation, must imprint his personal mark on this repertoire, valuing the poetry and melody of the compositions.

Connection Rio accompanies Zé Renato

The Rio Conexão group, formed by André Cechinel (piano), Fernando Barroso (bass), Fernando Clark (guitar) and Zé Mario (drums), is responsible for the instrumental accompaniment of the show. The Carioca quartet, with its versatile formation, must offer arrangements that dialogue with the tradition of bossa nova and samba, without leaving aside the contemporary.

The Manouche house, known for its programming dedicated to quality Brazilian music, is the ideal setting for this homage. The show promises to be a celebration of the memory of Newton Mendonça and his contribution to the work of Tom Jobim, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

Legacy of Newton Mendonça

Newton Mendonça left a relatively small but very high quality work that influenced generations of musicians. His partnership with Tom Jobim resulted in songs that crossed borders and became part of the universal songbook. Zé Renato’s show is an opportunity for the public to rediscover these jewels and recognize the talent of a composer who, although he left early, left an indelible mark on Brazilian music.

For fans of bossa nova and Brazilian popular music, the performance is an invitation to dive into the history of a partnership that helped shape the genre. The source did not detail whether there will be other performances of the show in other cities, but the expectation is that the initiative will inspire new rescue projects of the work of Newton Mendonça.

Read Also

Bolão do Paraná invoice R$ 3.8 million in Lotofácil; prize will be divided between 21 quotas

Font

g1.globo.com