With an octopus-like grasp into the performing arts world, Bianca Rossini has done so much already: acting in films and TV dramas, and hosting her own TV talk show; writing, composing and performing music heavily influenced by her Brazilian roots; publishing a poetry book; dancing and even puppetry. The creative flow is unstoppable and her energy is infectious. She has just released the new CD “Vento do Norte” and this north wind is about to bring the jazz world much more hot music.
In English, it means “Wind of the North” and the title song from the CD celebrates “the joy of love and romance, and the chance to dance and dream.” The tracks have a pop influence. “It makes me want to dance.”
Rossini grew up listening to bossa nova and other Brazilian music, and music from all over the world. “Some of my early influences were Dorival Caymmi, Vinicius de Moraes, João Gilberto, Pinxinguinha, Tom Jobim, Maysa and Elis Regina,” she said. Also, she has long admired Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Burt Bacharach, Simon & Garfunkel, Édith Piaf, Carly Simon and Dionne Warwi … and Coltrane, Cole Porter, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan.
Although not related to the operatic composer Gioachino Rossini (“William Tell” and “Barber of Seville”), she also loves opera. “I feel very fortunate that we have the LA Opera in our backyard. Their productions are some of the best I’ve seen of Madame Butterfly, Carmen, Tosca and La Bohème. The Recovered Voices Project and II Postino were also extraordinary and unforgettable. I love Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Victoria de Los Angeles, Maria Callas and Jessye Norman.”
As an actress, Bianca has worked in films and TV shows with some of her idols, including co-starring with Dick Van Dyke in “Diagnosis Murder.” She wrote a column covering the performing arts scene in LA and got to see up close many of the artists whose music she is inspired by, like Pat Metheny, Quincy Jones, George Benson, John Pizzarelli, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Branford Marsalis, Césaria Évora, Gilberto Gil and Jimmy Webb.
She is a poet and author, having published Love in Black and White in 2009.
There’s apparently no formality involved in setting the mood to compose. Bianca says, “Walking on the beach is a sure way to inspire new melodies and lyrics. It’s instant. I would say the ocean is a very powerful source of inspiration for me.”
For more information visit www.biancarossini.com.
