Bill Withers & Studio Rio - Lovely Day [Mr Bongo]

Format: 7" vinyl only.

When it comes to shifting a mood, this one is right up there with the best. Last year, as miche and I played at Shapes Festival, high in the snowy mountains of Switzerland, the alpine sky went from overwhelming to unforgettable. The clouds broke, revealing a double rainbow just as miche dropped Studio Rio's bossa nova reimagining of Bill Withers’ Lovely Day. From that moment on, the dancefloor changed completely, giving way to an explosion of positive energy in a beautiful, spontaneous instant that no one could have planned.

Now, Mr Bongo proudly presents the reissue of this brilliant bossa-laced reinterpretation of Bill Withers, taken from Studio Rio’s 2014 release, The Brazil Connection. Conceived by Grammy-winning Germans Berman Brothers, the project was born out of their deep love for Brazilian music. “Our goal was to bring Brazilian joie de vivre to iconic performances by established artists. How would these classic songs sound if they had been originally recorded in the studios of Rio de Janeiro with the best Brazilian musicians and arrangers?” the brothers reflect.

Intent on capturing the vibrant essence of Brazil and its music, they set out to find musicians who fit their vision. Arriving in Rio in 2013, a series of coincidences led them to meet their idols Marcos Valle and Roberto Menescal, who did not hesitate to join the project. They also wanted to collaborate with musicians who had worked with the legendary Tom Jobim. “Fifty years after Jobim defined the sound of bossa nova, we found that many of his musicians were still active, including Paulo Braga from his iconic rhythm section. It was magical; everything fell perfectly into place.”

There's no doubt that the original version of Lovely Day is one of the most radiant and good-spirited anthems of all time. In this version, the Berman Brothers, alongside a selection of Brazil's finest musicians, transform Bill's soulful groove into a warm bossa nova shimmer. With Bill and Sony's approval, they had access to the original tracks to seamlessly integrate his vocals into the new arrangement.

Joyful trumpets and vibrant double bass merge with the infectious flavour of Pretinho da Serrinha's cavaquinho, while Torcuato Mariano—collaborator of Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso—handles the arrangements that ultimately shape this gem.

Whether as the perfect end to a special night, an infallible mood lifter, or a sanctuary for the soul, few versions reach this level.