I'll Be Leaving My Sax For a Few weeks

[john]

Normally when I go away it’s to play somewhere on some performance gigs or a tour of some kind. Not this time!
I am actually taking a vacation. It’s been quite a while since I went back to Portugal. Although I grew up here in Vancouver Canada I was born in Portugal then my parent immigrated when I was just 6.

Anyway, I wanted to share something really cool with you guys…

“Fado” music is to Portugal what “blues” music is to the United States.
It’s very soulful and tells a deep, heartfelt or longing story by the singers.
Back in the 80’s a Portuguese saxophonist named Rao Kyao released an all instrumental Fado album which literally blew me away and became one of my all-time favourite recordings, because I love Fado music and of course he was the first to play it on a saxophone.
I’ve actually performed a few of these tunes for our local Portuguese community here in Vancouver.
Fado is accompanied by what we call a regular guitar along with 2 Portuguese guitars which are more tear-shaped and have their own unique sound. These provide the secondary melodic lines behind the main melody while the guitar plays a more bass accompanying role.

Here’s one of the cuts from Rao Kyao’s recording I mentioned, it’s called “Cansao do Mar” (Song 0f the Sea). If you want to look up more of his also try “Fado Bailado” which by the way is the name of this album I mentioned.
For singers, check out the most famous Fado singer of all time Amalia Rodrigues.

[Anonymous]

That’s wonderful music, I enjoy the melancholy sax balanced with the cheerful guitars. Reminds me of a cafe by the sea.

Happy holidays Johnny, have a good trip.

[Anonymous]

Fado Bailado Rao Kyao
Audio CD (June 27, 1989)
Number of Discs: 1
Format: Import
Label: Universal Portugal
ASIN: B0048U77EU

1. Fado Bailando
2. Ai Mouraria
3. Canção Do Mar
4. Fado Dois Tons
5. Dedicatória
6. Fado Victória
7. Fado Vianinha
8. Fois Deus
9. Fado Corrido
10. Contemplação

I’ll have to acquire a copy of this!

[Anonymous]

Amalia Rodrigues – The Queen Of Fado (CD)
The Queen of Fado
CD
BarCode : 5019396233720
Country of Origin : USA
Label : Arc Music

Tracks
[ Disc 01 Track 01 ] Maldi‡ao [Curse]
[ Disc 01 Track 02 ] Interior Triste [Blue/Sad Inside]
[ Disc 01 Track 03 ] H Festa Na Mouraria [Party in the Mouraria]
[ Disc 01 Track 04 ] Triste Sina [Sad Lot]
[ Disc 01 Track 05 ] C‚u Da Minha Rua [Heaven of My Street]
[ Disc 01 Track 06 ] Antigamente [In the Past]
[ Disc 01 Track 07 ] Liberta‡ao [Release]
[ Disc 01 Track 08 ] Ay! Mourir Pour Toi [Oh! To Die for You]
[ Disc 01 Track 09 ] Gorrioncillo Pecho Amarillo [Yellow Breasted Sparrow]
[ Disc 01 Track 10 ] Esquina Do Pecado [Corner of Sin]
[ Disc 01 Track 11 ] Campinos Do Ribatejo [Horseman from Ribatejo]
[ Disc 01 Track 12 ] A Chave Da Minha Porta [The Key to My Door]
[ Disc 01 Track 13 ] Lar Portuguˆs [Portuguese Home]
[ Disc 01 Track 14 ] Faz Hoje Um Ano [One Year Ago Today]
[ Disc 01 Track 15 ] Pentenera Portuguesa [Portuguese “Pentenera”]
[ Disc 01 Track 16 ] Fado Final [Final Fado]

[jake]

WOW! enjoy your vacation.
One great thing about the sax and music in general. There are so many different sounds and variations!! This song was not necessarily my cup of tea but it sounded fabulous! We should all be able to enjoy the sax for sure!! From subtlety, romance, to raunchy rock & roll, def something for everyone!!!!!
Cheers!!

[Pete]

Johnny
Surely you are taking your sax along to Portugal
I always take mine on holidays.
Have a nice break and enjoy.

[Michael]

That is super, super cool stuff he’s playing to say the least. I’ve heard Fado music played before, but never thought about connecting the Saxophone with it. When I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, you could take a walk on a Friday night on the historic downtown plaza and literally meet people from all over the world. I met some folks from Portugal who would stand on the street corner on the Plaza every single weekend with the guitars you described and leave their cases open/folks throwing in tips 🙂 I remember some of them had their own CDs too. Santa Fe is one of the oldest capitols in the US, people from all over the world go to Santa Fe to tour the historic downtown plaza–look it up on youtube when you can. This guys really did a great job of capturing that the essence of Fado music in his Sax playing, very cool to say the least 🙂
Thanks for sharing Johnny–you would be crazy to not bring back some souvenirs from Portugal back with you!

[Marc]

Hey, John… (you’ll be João for some weeks…) Enjoy your vacations. Great sunny beaches on the coast of Portugal… nice meals and good wines as well.
Did you know? One of your remote ancestors back in Lusitania (the name Romans gave to that european eastern-most land) much probably was a blacksmith.
Ferreira has its roots in the word “ferro” = iron. Ferrero, Ferreiro, Ferreira and Ferreyra are all last names derivatives from “the person who works with iron”

Have a nice time across the pond.

[William Cingolani]

Bon Voyage’ as we say in the Trades. Maybe you can just take your mouthpiece and favorite reeds and borrow a sax there in Portugal and blow a few happy tunes for the local paisanos.

[john]

yes thought of taking one of the mouthpieces.
Marc, I did know that, thanks. I’ve told that to many people over the years cause if they ask about my name or is it common etc I tell them it’s literally John Smith. so Smith comes from the balcksmith or smithrite etc.
ya guys, I’ve been back there many times over the years but not in the last decade. Food is awesome yes I know! really looking forward to it.

I’ll still be online but maybe not quite as much so if anyone posts regarding a download problem or complain please let them know I’ll take care of the issue but just be a bit more patient.

cheers
Johnny

[Author]

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