New original song - "Saia Preta"

[Wim Dijkgraaf]

Hello harmonica lovers,

Up to now, I only composed instrumental music. But a couple of weeks ago the band finished our first song called "Saia Preta" as part of the album that is planned for the beginning of 2011.  A co-writing production with the singer Maria João Mendes and piano player Alexander van Popta.

Maria wrote the lyrics when she was in Rio de Janeiro in 2009 and visited a concert of Caetano Veloso. During the concert she took a piece of paper and wrote down these lyrics immediately.

Saia Preta means "black skirt" and the lyrics are about walking through Rio feeling the black skirt touching your body, making you feel your love is still nearby but also too far away.

She sent me the lyrics and I wrote melodic lines and a form for the song, which she transformed into lines that where ideal for her voice. With the melody as input, Alexander added the harmonies.

After a one hour rehearsal with the band, we recorded this version.

You can listen to the recording at http://www.myspace.com/wimdijkgraaf

You'll find more recordings with Maria João Mendes at http://www.youtube.com/mariajoaojazz .

Any comments are welcome and much appreciated!!!!

Abraços,

Wim Dijkgraaf

[A.J.Fedor]

Oooooooooh Butterman!
Mighty fine Wim! 

[Wim Dijkgraaf]

Hi members,

Sorry for this late reply. I was on the road for some days without internet nearby. Somehow, my MySpace environment had a technical problem with the uploaded file.

Today, I uploaded Saia Preta again and now it seems to get displayed correctly.

Hope you like it too ... ;-)

Abraços,

Wim

[mikeboy]

As always Wim. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. I like the lady's voice.

Mike

[Eugene Ryan]

Wim, that sounds spectacular.  I really enjoyed listening to that track.  Keep up the good work!

BTW, I also really liked your playing on this piece (especially where you went out):
http://www.youtube.com/wimdijkgraaf#p/a/u/2/fxzSKrJNcZY

Maybe some time you could write a little about the approaches you used for that - providing you have the time and inclination!   

Thanks for the music,
Eugene

[Al Kai]

Sophisticated, smooth and soothing.  Superb music.