
NOVA VIDA (Portuguese for “New Life”) is a new(ish) music collective marshalled by UK man about soul and all things Acid Jazz, CHRIS BANGS. We were introduced to the New Lifers last summer via their single, ‘My Only’ – a cover of an obscure tune that was originally released by French singer/actress Danielle Brisbois which was also featured on the soundtrack of the Jack Nicholson movie, ‘As Good As It Gets’!
Mr B tells us that he’s putting the final spit and polish on a Nova Vida album, ‘Ritmo Da Vida’ (“Rhythm Of Life”). He hopes it it’ll be good to go mid-April… we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime there’s a new Nova Vida single on offer – a lovely, light, Latin shuffle, ‘Each And Every One’ . The femme vocal is sweet and delicate and, sadly, right now the lady’s anonymous. Indeed Chris tells us that many of the artists who contribute to the Nova Voda project are “unknowns” – he recently discovered them on his global peregrinations!
By the way sneak previews of the ‘Ritmo Da Vida’ album reveal a varied set that skilfully mixes samba and bossa nova with classic British pop and 70’s West Coast sensitivities. Watch out for splendid covers of England Dan and John Ford Coley’s ‘Love Is The Answer’ and Gerry and the Pacemakers’ Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying’, which someone much better qualified than me described as “the perfect pop song”. Nova Vida make a great job of their cover.
NOVA VIDA; single’ Each And Every One’ out now via Bandcamp (then March 11th); ‘Ritmo Da Vida’ album out on CD and digital April 15th via Chris’ own CBI label.