Peru's Bossa 70

Bossa 70 - Bossa 70 Philips 6350-003 (Peru) (1970)

Bossa 70 was the brainchild of Nilo Espinoza, a Peruvian musician with a Brazilian heart. Nilo, a classically trained musician, was the top flute player in Peru in 1960. In 1961 he was honored with a scholarship to Austria to study advance classes of his instrument as well as other kinds of wind instruments. He lived in Europe for five years. It was during that time that he developed a profound attraction for all forms of the jazz language.

When he returned to Peru, in 1966, Nilo approached the best musicians he could find to form a group to play jazz and Bossa-nova, the new music craze from Brazil. Very soon they found out there were not too many followers for their preferred musical styles. The group decided to play popular dance music on a part time basis so everyone in the band could make a living. They named the group Los Hilton's, because they got a gig as the house band in the best International Hotel in Lima, Peru, called "Hilton".

They had several singers during the time they played at the Hilton. This was their major weakness, since it was hard to find a singer that could feel comfortable singing jazz and Bossa-nova as well as popular music. In 1967 they recorded an long-play under the name Los Hilton's, which became extremely rare, since the Peruvian record label printed only 200 copies. The tracks on the album are a compilation of original compositions with some popular songs, played in The Hilton' s style.

In 1968 the group got busy giving concerts of jazz and Bossa nova. They decided to change their name to Bossa 70, to reflect the musical style they were going to offer, specially after their main singer was replaced by Carmen Rosa Basurco. Carmen Rosa was a beautiful black woman that could sing in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and also had an electrifying personality with good control of audiences. As a means to promote their new name the group recorded a mini-lp with four fantastic songs. 100 copies were pressed and giving as a prize during the concerts and to personal friends and family.

In 1970, to commemorate the anniversary of the band, they recorded a long-play for Phillips, represented by El Virrey in Peru. The label pressed 300 copies that were sold quickly. In 1972 the members followed their own musical paths, Enrique "Pico" Ego Aguirre, leader of Los Shain' s went on to form the band Pax. Otto De Rojas played keyboards on the Traffic Sound "Tibbet's Suzetts" album & finally Nilo Espinoza formed Nil's Jazz Ensemble who went on to record the only great jazz funk lp from Peru (MAG-LPN 2535).

Nilo Espinoza: Sax, Flute & Vocals
Enrique Sescun: Trumpet,Trombone & Vocals
Carmen Rosa Basurco: First Female
Otto De Rojas: Progressive Keyboard & Chorus
Roberto Rafaeli: Bass & Chorus
Tito Cruz: Drums & Percussion
Enrique "Pico" Ego Aguirre: First Electric Guitar & Rhythm Guitar
Manuel Marañon: Percussion
Adolfo Bonariva: Timbales & Cowbell

1) Nubes
2) Get Out Of My Way
3) Te Quiero Bien
4) Think
5) Nunca Te Olvidare
6) No Sabes Nada De Mi
7) Me Quedo Con El Shingaling
8) Otra Vez
9) Birimbao
10) Cuelgalo Bien Alto