Pianist Dan Costa will perform together with his quartet at the JazzBook club in Bucharest, on Sunday, December 7th, at 8:00 PM. Dan Costa is a musician born in Great Britain, to a mixed Italian-Portuguese family. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with important musicians such as Ron Carter, Randy Brecker, Roberto Menescal, Ivan Lins, and Hermeto Pascoal.

We interviewed Dan Costa for the Romanian Jazz Society column.

First, let's talk about Sunday's concert at JazzBook. Is it your first time in Romania?

Yes, it is the first, and I'm glad to bring my music to this country. I will be accompanied by three musicians from the region, with whom I'm doing a tour in Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Austria. And it's wonderful that we included Romania in this tour.

How would you describe your music to those who haven't heard you yet?

Usually my music is described as modern Latin jazz, mainly Brazilian jazz, because I use many Brazilian rhythms. But I also have flamenco and fado influences. I try to avoid labels; I prefer people to listen to the music and focus on the atmosphere and the feeling. I like comparing my music to painting, especially because it is inspired by beautiful landscapes and specific experiences in different countries such as Brazil, Greece, and others. For me, this is more important than stylistic labels.

You were born in England, you have Italian-Portuguese roots, yet you are very passionate about Brazilian music. How did that happen?

I grew up in England only until I was eight, then we moved to the south of France. But it's true, my family's culture is Italian and Portuguese. And those cultures have influenced Brazil; many people there have Italian or Portuguese origins. It's a strong connection that I felt when I lived and studied there, in the state of São Paulo. I grew up with Italian and Portuguese singers, but Brazilian music also has a strong African rhythmic component, and that's what truly attracted me to this genre: the combination of European-style harmonies and melodies with an African groove.

You have an impressive list of collaborators, including many classics of jazz and Brazilian music. Can you highlight a memorable encounter with one of these great artists you've worked with?

I'll choose Roberto Menescal, one of the founders of bossa nova, with whom I've collaborated several times. The first time was when we recorded together for my 2018 album Skyness. Then I played with Roberto Menescal at the Blue Note club in Rio, alongside another great guitarist, Nelson Faria. There we performed his classic O Barquinho. More recently, we composed a piece together for an unreleased duo album that I recorded with the great bassist Ron Carter. For me, it's a great honor to work with Roberto Menescal-not only because he is one of the creators of bossa nova, but also because, in my teenage years, the first jazz pieces I played on the piano were In a Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington and O Barquinho by Roberto Menescal.

Can you tell us about the band you'll be playing with at JazzBook? From what I understand, they are Slovenian musicians.

They all have strong ties with Vienna, because they studied and work there, but they are all from Slovenia-only one of them is half Croatian. The members of my quartet are Luka Debelić on guitar, Tjan Šoštarič on double bass, and Gaj Bostič on drums. I've collaborated with Luka and Tjan two years ago on another tour. Now the drummer, Gaj, who is also from Slovenia, has joined us.

Finally, a message for the jazz fans in Romania.

My message is to keep listening to the music you love. I hope you will enjoy our concert and that we'll form a strong connection.