Search - Sergio Dias :: Song of the Leopard

Song of the Leopard captures Sergio's experiences in South Africa - the feeling of emerging freedom, the purity of nature and contact with one of the world's oldest civilizations. Sergio's seamless merging of his Brazilian roots with the sounds of South Africa is symbolic in Southern Cross - the skies bridging both countries where as when Sergio in Brazil and someone in South Africa raise their eyes to the skies, at that same moment they are as one. The recording opens with Shosholoza from South Africa's folklore, considered an anthem by many natives. Following is Praise the Lord, a traditional South African gospel song sung by the Chris Faya Gospel singers accompanied by only piano and the pipe organ. Yacomah mixes Zulu and west African voices with ethnic percussion and digital effects - a bit of magic! A Thousand Hills, slows down the pace with a love song from Sergio to South Africa, followed by Rain, a personal celebration of his own spiritual awareness and connection from childhood. Soweto, Tennessee is on the light side with a jazzy country swing, about an African man seeking freedom and the American dream in the United States.Although some lyrics are sung in the Zulu language, that won't keep anyone from singing along and merging with the emotion of the music and singers. This blend of Brazilian jazz and African music is a unique introduction of world music to the younger generation enthralled in pop, rock and country music. To world music connoisseurs, this recording offers a light and lively new multi-cultural sound feeding both traditional and contemporary essences.