‘Catalyst Sessions’ recap: Nate Najar and Daniela Soledade

Thursday evening on The Catalyst Sessions, we indulged in a bit of bossa nova with Nate Najar and Daniela Soledade.

The St. Pete-born jazz guitarist and the Brazilian songbird gave a virtual mini-concert – from the proper social distance, of course – and talked about the roots of the music. According to Soledade, bossa nova was created in Rio de Janiero in the late 1950s, when much of the population was crowded into tiny, box-like apartments.

“So when people think ‘Why do you sing bossa nova so quietly?’” she explained. “It’s not because we’re trying to be sexy – it’s because we’re trying to not bother the neighbors.”

The pair talked about influences, including the legendary singer/guitarist Joao Gilberto and his vocalist wife Astrud; Najar discussed his earliest experiences with jazz, and the players who influenced him most.

With The Catalyst Sessions, we are bringing the bay area’s arts community into your homes as a reminder that, during these uncertain times, we may not all be together in the same room, but we are still all together.

The Catalyst Sessions is streamed weeknights at 7 on Facebook Live. We will not be there tonight (Friday, March 3), so we can enjoy Cindy Stovall’s Beauty & the ‘Burg LIVE – Around the World.

And at 7:30 tonight, Najar and Soledade will be streaming a full performance live here.