“The Ipanemas is an idea from FarOut Record’s Joe Davis and he invited me to produce new arrangements for the project”, says European drummer Ivan Conti.

“The place where the people can share emotion together is the perfect place.”

He has worked with many established artists and other musicians in his time, though is known mostly for his Azymuth group and Afro-Cuban group, The Ipanemas.

Ivan Conti says, “My first instrument was acoustic guitar and in 1962, I started to play with a bossa nova group called Os Dissonanates, and I’m going to Beco das Garrafas. The legendary place in Copacabana to hear monster musicians like Edson Machado, Do Um Romao, Elis Regina, Flora and others and then I start to play drums, shows and record in the studio.”

“In one place called Canecao. I played with a rock group named Youngsters in 1964. Around this time the venue Canecao had five groups and in one of them Bertrami plays with another trio and in another band plays Alex Malheiros. And one day we decided to play together, in live and in the recording studio,” continues Ivan Conti.

Brazilian Soul was released on FarOut Records featuring soulful singers. He chips in, “We don’t record too much with singers. Sometimes one special recording like Brazilian Soul with Emilio Santiago, Fabiola, Marcio Lott etc.”

Who hasn’t he worked with but would like to? “A lot of Ellis Regina, Maria Bethania, Gal Costa, Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, Jorge Ben, Rita Lee, Leila Pinheiro, Taiguara, Erlon Cahavas (band), Paul Mauriat (band), Andreas Voulevarden, Stanley Jordan and several great musicians”, says Ivan Conti.

“Genne Krupa, Buddy Rich, Eric Gravat, Bituca, Edgar Nunes (Juquinha), Edson Machado, Dom Um. I don’t have one special style for play. I like good music and good vibrations.”

Ivan Conti is based in Europe, though he says, “The place where the people can share emotion together is the perfect place.”

“Don’t play just for play. Try anytime to share ideas and play with heart and emotions,” advises Ivan Conti.

“I picked up in 1954 two forks and some pans! My Mom said.”

And on future Ivan Conti albums? He says, “We are thinking about a special CD for sun invite. Brazilian and international DJs like Marcelo D2 — Nuths, Madlib and others.”