| Sounds Like | THE BOSSA NOVA AND GERMAN BENSE
Editor's review at Download.com
"Brazilian rhythms and vocal harmonies are performed with dexterity and passion by German Bense. A fabulous memento of Stan Getz's bossified era, the music faithfully imparts a sense of nostalgia, while retaining the
unique blend of its Afro-Uruguayan style."
Lance-K at "Gods of Music"
"...It has just enough off intonation in the male vocal line to remind one of the earnest
offerings of Astrud Gilberto or her ex Giao (Joao Gilberto), and in a sense recalls the
American Michael Franks with respect to smooth whisper quality. Overall excellent smooth jazz bossa nova worthy of any mellow cafe gathering or romantic mood..."
Ed Drurry at RandomArtist
"...The combination of precise guitar, accoustic piano and poetic lyrics takes the
listener to that special place which one only visits (if they are lucky enough) oncein a life time..."
Justin Stone at "Gods of Music"
"...The chord progessions are so smooth and the vocals are very warm and relaxing. Much like a solo serenade for you and your loved one as you travel the sites and sounds of a lost getaway. Nobody but you,y our girl, and a soft voice keeping the mood "just
right"..."
GERMAN BENSE STEP BY STEP
1963 - German Bense was born in Montevideo, Uruguay
1977 - Begun piano and theory studies at the "Instituto Kölischer" (until 1979).
1979 - Begun guitar and bass studies at the "Centro Musical Moderno" with the master Juan Lamas.
Performs as guitarist in a bossa nova band that won the Uruguayan TV Conquest "Estudiantina".
1981 - Performs in a dixieland band called "Luisiana Jazz Band".
1982 - Begun his professional musician career performing guitar and bass guitar in Montevideo's
night clubs. Wrote his first own songs that year. 1983 - Performs in a brazilian music band
called "Turbilhao" that play the whole year in differents Montevideo's night clubs.
1984 - Won the "Revelation Award" in the "Festival de La Paz", Canelones, Uruguay (Uruguayan
Popular Music).
1985 - Begun an ininterrupted activity at differents Montevideo's clubs (until 1995). The
highlighted appareances of that period are the followings:
-Guitarist, bassist and singer at "Clave de Fu", a legendary Montevideo's brazilian music
night club. Integrates the "Fernado Torrado trio" (Clave de Fu owner) and co-write many songs
with him (songs that are included in the Fernando Torrado's discography)
-1986: Bass guitarist and arranger of the Mario "Chichito" Cabral band, mythical Uruguayan
percussonist and composer.
-Between 1992 and 1995 share with the Uruguayan singer Liese Lange a duo called "Bossa
Nostra", since today remembered as a Montevideo music classic.
1989 - Record and publish his first album, "Despues de todo", shared with the songwriter Jorge
Alastra (Perro Andaluz Records).
1990 - Record and publish his second album called "Quimera" (Perro Andaluz Records).
1991 - Make a gigs series in wich he invites to share the scene others songwriters of his
generation. They are: Claudio and Rossana Taddei, Jorge Alastra, Liese Lange and Jorge Drexler
(who 14 years later won the "Oscar Award")
1995 - Stop his musician professional activity for personal resons until the year 2000. 2000 -
Inagurtes his first Internet music site at "mp3.com"
2001 - Record and publish his 3rd album (his first whole bossa nova album) called "Opus Bossa
Nova" (Mp3.com Records).
2002 - Record and publish a new bossa nova album called "Desafinados como eu" (Mp3.com Records).
December
2002: his songs "Barco sin puerto" and "A dream that to fullfil" reach the ..1 in the mp3.com
bossa nova and jazz charts. Return to the live performances in Uruguay.
2004 - His song "Desafinados como Eu" is included in the music band of the film "Falling", by the
New York independent Producer and Director Clayton Allys.
2005 - Record and Publish his new bossa nova CD "Love Song in Vain" (Perro Andaluz Records).
2006: German Bense is invited to participate in the "2do Encuentro de Bossanovaenargentina"
(unique event of these characteristics in the world made in Buenos Aires, Argentina), sharing the
scene with Argentinian and Brazilian musicians and composers. He performs on 9 of April of 2006.
2007 - In July German Bense
presents his show again in Buenos Aires, in the "Club Lounge Buenos Aires" and
in the "Centro Cultural del Sur", as part of the "3er Encuentro de Bossa Nova en
Argentina". Also in this year, the Bense's song "The lack of love" is included
in the soundtrack of the film "Butterfiles in the wind", by the US independent
producer and director Vic Alexander. The premiere of that film was on September
29 in the "Ava Gardner Film Festival", Smithfield, North Carolina.
In December 2007 Bense participates in the 3rd edition of the "Festival
Internacional Mardelbossa" (Mar del Plata, Argentina), in where he shares the
scene with outstanding Argentinian and Brazilian musicians.
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