Exploring the Art of Composing and Performing Brazilian Jazz with David Manson

a man and a woman are laughing in front of a piano

Photo of Andrea Moraes Manson and David Manson in the WUSF Studio. Photo by Jazz on Arts Axis Florida

David Manson is a trombonist, composer, concert presenter and music technologist who teaches composition, world music, jazz studies and low brass courses at St. Petersburg College (SPC). A soloist and composer with diverse interests, he has worked with Sam Rivers, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Bogus Pomp and Diego Figueiredo, among others. His original music has been recently placed in the HBO series, "Looking", "Grandfathered" on Fox, "Riverdale" on CW and "The Replacement" on BBC One. More recent placements would be "Riverdale" on CW, "Preacher" on AMC, "Single Parents" on ABC, BBC One "The Replacement" and "Your Honor" on Showtime. He directs the nonprofit presenter EMIT, the Recording Arts Program (RAP) with Boys & Girls students at the Royal Theater in Midtown, and also the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival. Manson also composes and performs with Brazilian group O Som Do Jazz and directs the Helios Jazz Orchestra, the resident ensemble at SPC.



JAZZ ON ARTS AXIS FLORIDA: What message(s) do you hope resonate with your audience when they hear your music?

DAVID MANSON: We want to share some of the great Brazilian music with U.S. audiences in the most authentic way possible. Andrea and I started O Som Do Jazz 15 years ago and we have a massive repertoire of samba Bossa Nova, MPB, Baião and choro to share.

How do you write a song?
I can compose methodically (crafting) but prefer to sing or improvise and discover a motif or fragment that can be developed. If I can "hear" 30% of the song in my head, then I can usually complete it. Andrea often composes songs in the shower and records them to her cell phone.

What inspirations do you pull from when writing/composing? 

When writing original music (songs, jazz, chamber music, orchestral) I spend time listening to music that gives me goosebumps. I analyze the "it factor" elements and add them to my vocabulary. Although I listen to many composers, I don't try to sound like them. I just go for honest writing whether it's for O Som Do Jazz, Helios Jazz Orchestra or my newest avant-jazz project, ERG.

What’s your favorite album or song to listen to?

For Brazilian music, I am a huge fan of Elis Regina's recordings. Elis Regina e Zimbo Trio – O Fino Do Fino may be one of my favorites. It's a live concert with a 20-year-old Elis Regina. The Zimbo Trio is brilliant and Elis is stunning (as always) and gives 110%.


How do you know/feel when a song is completed for release?
If it feels natural (rather than forced) and if the mix is balanced, then it is ready to share. It also has to meet the approval of Andrea!

When you cover a song, how do you know which ones to play live?
In O Som Do Jazz, we select songs that are diverse (samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, Baião ) and think of the flow of the concert from the audience's perspective. Bossa Nova is lovely, but an entire program of Bossa Nova is a sleeper. A lively samba or a grooving Baião added to the program adds diversity to the concert.

What’s your rehearsal process?

Everyone in the band is very busy so we try to be efficient. I write the arrangements and originals, email PDF's to band members with audio links and then we meet and rehearse. I used to play in a Zappa tribute band (Bogus Pomp) that would rehearse by rote for dozens of hours before any performance. I don't have much free time teaching and directing a nonprofit organization). With Mark Feinman, Alejandro Arenas, John O'Leary (who also play in La Lucha) and Alex Malkovich, we get right down to business in rehearsals. We can often rehearse a song two or three times and then it's ready for performance.

What’s the greatest musical moment you’ve experienced?
I was fortunate to perform and record with legendary saxophonist Sam Rivers on a CD of my original music titled Fluid Motion. Performing with Sam and the players in that group was amazing. Playing at Zappanale in Germany was also very nice as was hearing the Florida Orchestra play two of my short compositions. Andrea's greatest concert was hearing the amazing Djavan live. Playing every gig with O Som Do Jazz is also a joy. I hope that my greatest musical moments are ahead of me!

What’s your earliest musical memory?
That might be my mother singing "Puff the Magic Dragon" to us kids.


How do you prepare mentally and physically for a live show?
If you prepare diligently, much of the stress is avoided. There is so much more involved with music than the performance. I just try to plan ahead and practice consistently. If I am lucky, the venue might provide the sound system.


Do you have a favorite piece of equipment you can talk about?
Although I teach Pro Tools and own about ten instruments, I am not a "gearhead". The trombone that I play most is an instrument made in China and quite reasonable in price. It's often the player, not the equipment. Of course, it's a never-ending process to practice and grow as a musician.

What makes playing jazz/Latin so appealing?
The different grooves and ensemble elements, elegant melodies, lush harmonies and emotional expression, all make Brazilian music very appealing! It is always fresh. It doesn't hurt that the trombone is a "cool" instrument in Latin music.

What’s your favorite memory of a live performance?
Our O Som Do Jazz concert on the Miami International Jazz Fest was very memorable. We opened for a Linda Briceño's New York-based band and while we played, we could see their members off-stage watching us and digging what we do.

What are your future aspirations/plans in jazz music?
We continue to write originals, record them and send them to licensing companies for use in television and film. We would like to play in more festivals and events with larger audiences. Our 4th CD is being mixed now. It's mainly originals with great musicians including Alejandro Arenas, Bruno Miranda, Jose Valentino Ruiz, Mark Feinman, Rafael Pereira and Tabajara Belo.

What’s your top tip for musicians just starting to perform live at venues?
If the "powers that be" don't express interest in your music, then rent a venue, market your concert like crazy and build your own audience. Waiting for someone else to appreciate your talents is a losing game today.

What is the group currently listening to?
We have six band members who listen to diverse music. We all love the Zimbo and Tamba Trios from the 60s and J.T. Meirelles and the Copa 5. We also listen to Elis Regina, João Donato (who sadly passed recently), Jovino Santo Neto and Antonio Adolfo (whom we had the pleasure of performing with), Edu Lobo and (of course) Tom Jobim. I like Bruna Moraes, a new singer/songwriter who is stellar.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

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