Rovanio Nanny Assis

• 1No Agora05:47
• 2Nenhum03:33
• 3Manhã de Carnaval05:29
• 4Amor Omisso05:12
• 5Human Kind05:13
• 6Back to Bahia04:11
• 7Proponho03:56
• 8The Northern Sea05:33
• 9Insensatez05:07
• 10Intimate Acquaintances05:02
• Total Runtime49:03

Info for Rovanio

Rovanio is a remarkable kaleidoscope of styles, textures, ideas, and even languages.

By 2020, Nanny Assis had 40 years as a performing musician under his belt. His esteem as a bossa/jazz vocalist, percussionist, and guitarist was well established, but for the Bahia native (now based in New York and South Florida) that was only part of the story. 'Coming from Brazil, I have so many different styles and roots for my music,' he says. 'It's very rich--I wanted to present an album that would show the real me.'

To drive the point home, for the first time in his professional career, he signed his real first name to the album. Rovanio is indeed a remarkable kaleidoscope of styles, textures, ideas, and even languages, yet it never strays from the distinctive Brazilian elements that form the foundation of Assis's music. It doesn't have to: that kaleidoscope itself is part of what makes the country's music special.

The glue, perhaps--but Assis is holding together multiple parts. No less than 20 artists appear across Rovanio's ten tracks (even more, if each member of the St. Petersburg Studio Orchestra--which plays on three pieces--is counted separately). He also co-wrote all but one of the songs. Those many contributors enhance, rather than detract from, his mission of self-revelation. Part of 'the real me' Assis wants to portray is that he is a natural and enthusiastic collaborator.

Which makes participants like bassist Ron Carter; guitarist Chico Pinheiro; trumpeter Randy Brecker; pianist Fred Hersch; saxophonists John Ellis, Igor Butman, and Lakecia Benjamin; and vocalists Janis Siegel, Vinicius Cantuária, Emanuel Yerday, and Laura and Dani Assis part and parcel of the titular music of Nanny Assis. 'It should really be called The Music of Nanny Assis and Friends,' he says. The album also includes one standard, 'Manhã de Carnaval.' 'The other tracks are all collaborations: I partnered with somebody to do either words or music.' In addition, Assis and guitarist Chico Pinheiro together arranged every tune but one.

"Coming from Brazil, I have so many different styles and roots for my music. There's so much information in one place, and it's really strong in the culture, the dance, and the music. And I figure I'm the glue for all that." (Nanny Assis)

Nanny Assis, vocals, percussions
Ron Carter, bass
Chico Pinheiro, guitar
Randy Brecker, trumpet
Fred Hersch, piano
John Ellis, saxophone
Igor Butman, saxophone
Lakecia Benjamin, saxophone
Janis Siegel, vocals
Vinicius Cantuaria, drums
Laura Assis, percussions
Dani Assis, percussions

Nanny Assis
Assis's 40-year career as a bossa/jazz vocalist, percussionist, and guitarist was well established, but for the Bahia, Brazil native (now based in New York and south Florida) that was only part of the story. On his new album, "Rovanio: The Music of Nanny Assis," he presents a remarkable kaleidoscope of styles, textures, ideas, and even languages in collaboration with 20 acclaimed jazz artists, including bass legend Ron Carter.

Rovanio “Nanny” Assis was born August 25, 1969, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. When he was 7, he began playing drums and singing in the choir at the church where his father was pastor. After he picked up the basics of the guitar, he turned to the secular musical world, playing fusion and samba with his friends and making his first excursions into jazz.

He continued pursuing music even as he earned degrees in linguistics and Portuguese literature at Catholic University of Salvador, and married and started a family. American music—and America itself—were his targets, achieved when in 1993 he joined the Austin, Texas–based Rolling Thunder as a percussionist. After six years of regular work in the U.S., he moved to New York with his family in 1999.

Assis continued working in multiple genres, but increasingly found himself in the company of jazz musicians. He worked with singer Lauren Henderson, trumpeter Mark Morganelli, and keyboardist Pete Levin; featured Eumir Deodato, Romero Lubambo, John Patitucci, Michael Leonhardt, and Erik Friedlander on his first album, 2006’s "Double Rainbow"; and formed the Requinte Trio with Janis Siegel and John Di Martino (making an eponymous album with them in 2010). Jazz players also dominate the ranks of his collaborators on "Rovanio: The Music of Nanny Assis," his second album as a leader.

“'Rovanio' is my best musical work to date,” says Assis. “For many years I had the urgent desire to see this music materialize. It encompasses all of my life experiences—rhythmically, harmonically, and melodically—since I was young.”

This album contains no booklet.