‘Samedi’ ~ From Brazil to France, with Love
Listen to “Samedi” on streaming services or grab the new CD, “Whatever You’re Feelin’”
In 2022, Leticia and I had been married for about two months when we found ourselves on a bus, departing apricot tinged sunsets of San Sebastián, Spain, headed for a city in Western France called Nantes.
It had been almost half a year since we got engaged, and we had set out with our backpacks and roller bags, destination and duration unknown. Unbeknownst to us, we were halfway through a 38 city tour of the world when we arrived in Nantes, on the banks of the Loire river, to cross one item off my bucket list.
On the evening before my 35th birthday, we went to see one of my favorite musicians, Bassekou Kouyate and his family band, Ngoni Ba, performing live in concert at a beautiful theater called le Lieu Unique (the Unique Place, in English). We arrived early and were rewarded with seats in the front row, dead center, a few meters away from the ngoni sorcerer himself. It was all that, and more.
Aside from the show, we enjoyed three days of newlywed bliss in Nantes. Each day, we’d stop by a little park at the riverside, where I’d indulge in a carefree flute practice while Leticia read a book. We had been lifted out of the river of time ~ we were two spirits sailing on a gentle breeze, relaxing in perfect harmony.
Isn’t time enjoyed together the sweetest fruit of love? “Samedi”, the fourth track on “Whatever You’re Feelin’”, encapsulates this feeling of having nowhere to be except the present moment (for any uninitiated francophones, samedi is French for Saturday). I hope you’ll feel the love in this recording, featuring an amazing band of Brazilian musicians ~ Jaderson Cardoso on drums, Enielse on bass, Josué Mariano on guitar, and Larissa Marinonio on backing vocals. Perhaps it'll give you a taste of Saturday when you hear it.