Camille Bertault - Voz e Vocês (2025)

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Camille Bertault - Voz e Vocês (2025)

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The magical culture of Brazil has captured the hearts of many. Vocalist Camille Bertault began her love affair with Brazil in 2013, when she was awarded a grant from the City of Paris to collect Brazilian stories and legends to turn into a play. Bertault stayed in Brazil for three months, learning Portuguese and befriending many locals. Since then, she has returned every year to collaborate and perform with the great talent she met there. Bertault’s new Voz e Vocês is a gorgeous tribute to these joyous encounters and her love for Brazil.

For over a decade, Bertault has been astounding listeners with her dynamic approach to jazz and French chanson. Her celebrated jazz vocalese is especially impressive with a full command of the inflections and range of the improviser’s language. It should be no surprise that Bertault was immediately captivated and motivated to capture the energy and unique saudade of Brazilian music once she was introduced to it.

During Bertault’s initial visit to Brazil, where she collected stories, songs, and the Portuguese language. Her earnestness in her project also won her many friends, including a number of notable musicians and music industry people, including a festival promoter who brought Bertault back the next year beginning the vocalist’s annual pilgrimages to the country.

When she returned to Brazil in 2022, Bertault wanted to make a present to herself and create a tribute to the wonderful friends that she had developed in São Paulo and Rio de Janiero. Bertault reached out to recording engineers Adonias Souza Júnior (São Paulo) and Tassio Ramos (Rio de Janeiro) to capture some impromptu duo and small group performances with her close collaborators.

Bertault initially looked to her longest standing Brazilian acquaintances, vocalist Vanessa Moreno and pianist Salomão Soares, whom she had met at her earliest Brazilian jam sessions. Bertault wanted to highlight the younger generation of Brazilian performers and composers on her project. She also wanted to shine a light on some brilliant established musicians, including guitarist Guinga, Hamilton de Holanda, and Trio Corrente.

The musical selections for Voz e Vocês were chosen from pieces that she and her collaborators loved, including many Brazilian standards and pop favorites along with original material from the musicians.

The program begins with Bertault and bandolim wizard Hamilton de Holanda on his “Choro do Portina,” a piece they had never performed together and that provided a spontaneous and propulsive energy. Bertault first heard Guilherme de Brito and Nelson Cavaquinho’s “Folhas Secas” performed by the great Elis Regina, falling in love with the song and singer instantly. Here, Bertault performs the classic with Trio Corrente in a subtly funky and swinging version, even quoting the jazz classic “Just Friends” in her solo. Bertault provides French lyrics to Francisco César Gonçalves and Itamar Assumpção’s “Dúvida Cruel,” which she performs in a driving duet with guitarist/vocalist Chico César.

Though guitarist Guinga had written many songs for singers, his “Cheio de Dedos” was never recorded with vocals, making Bertault and his vigorous new take the first attempt ever with voice on his melodically brilliant piece. Joao Donato and Gilberto Gil’s “Bananeira” receives a wonderfully off the cuff performance by Bertault and vocalist Vanessa Moreno. Bertault’s vocals float over the insistent piano of Salomão Soares on Antônio Carlos Jobim’s unforgettable “Chovendo na Roseira.” Djavan’s melancholy “Nuvem Negra” was one of the first Brazilian songs Bertault learned. Fortunately, she realized this moving version with Mestrinho’s heartfelt accordion and voice.

Bertault had only just met the Gurgels prior to the recording. Having been struck by pianist Deborah Gurgel and Thiago Rabello’s “36-47,” Bertault decided to feature the piece with Deborah on dancing piano with vocal gymnastics by Dani Gurgel and herself. A festive performance of César Camargo Mariano’s “Samambaia” finds Bertault playfully bouncing her voice off the piano of her friend Claudio Dauelsberg. The recording concludes with a stately performance of Jobim’s “Inútil Paisagem,” featuring the remarkable trombone voice of Bocato supporting Bertault on the lovely ballad.

Fueled by a love of Brazilian culture and friendship of developed over years of collaboration, Camille Bertault’s Voz e Vocês is an intoxicating collection of music that shows the heart and joie de vivre of Brazilian music.

Camille Bertault - vocals
Hamilton de Holanda - 10 string bandolim (1)
Trio Corrente: Fabio Torres - piano, Paulo Paulelli - bass & Edu Ribeiro - drums (2)
Chico César - guitar & vocals (3)
Guinga - guitar (4)
Vanessas Moreno - vocals (5)
Salomão Soares - piano (6)
Mestrinho - accordion & vocals (7)
Deborah Gurgel - piano (8)
Dani Gurgel - vocals (8)
Claudio Dauelsberg - piano (9)
Bocato - trombone (10)