The eternal Sergio Mendes

Sometime in 1966, a song by bossa nova musician Sergio Mendes entitled Mais Que Nada zoomed up the ratings charts. Mais Que Nada, It’s Nothing, in English became the first hit of Brasil ‘66 whose members included percussionist Jose Soares and Joao Palma, bass player Bob Matthews, with Mendes on the piano, and singers Janis Hansen and Lani Hall.

Last month, Mendes visited Tokyo and was delighted to discover that Mais Que Nada had been remixed by Japanese disc jockeys. So did their counterparts in London.

"The song Mais Que Nada is like the national anthem of the Japanese kids aged 17 to18. All of my songs have been remixed by Japanese DJs. There is a wonderful interest in that kind of melody," he told a small group of journalists assembled at the Westin Philippine Plaza.

Mendes is in Manila for a two-night concert on today and on Oct. 4 at the Aliw Theater in Star City, CCP Complex. Lani Misalucha, a special guest of Mendes, is expected to sing Bridges and Going Out of My Head.

As if the remixing of his songs were not enough, he surprised Filipino journalists by announcing that he had recorded a rap-hip-hop version of the song How Insensitive? with a young rap band called the Black Eyed Peas. The band’s leader is named Will.i.am, described by Mendes as "a young kid from Los Angeles who told me I have all your records. Can you play a song (for us)?"

"We did the (Antonio Carlos) Jobim song How Insensitive? in a rap-hip-hop style. It was wonderful. It shows how music can go many ways, many styles if you don’t force it. It is natural," said Mendes who came to the press conference casually clad in an apple-green sports shirt and cotton shorts.

Though Sergio Mendes songs "remain," Mendes emphasized that he tries "to change the arrangement a little bit to make it fresh, to make it different." I do what I do. Some songs are more popular than the others. Some songs you may not know because they were in Portuguese."

Asked pointedly about the secrets to his musical longevity, Mendes said, "I think the songs are the most important thing. I was fortunate to have recorded great melodies through the years and to be associated with those songs."

"I have a 10-year-old son and maybe he will put together a band someday. He’s very musical. His name is Santiago," said Mendes in response to the question "how does Sergio Mendes sees himself 100 years from now?"

Mendes gamely admitted that he has five sons aged 40, 38, 32, 16, and Santiago from two "wives". His age? "Your guess!"

He hastily added that he looks younger than his age because of "genetics, good wine (preferably white), and shark fins."

The musical history of Mendesbegun with his training in a local music conservatory in Niteroi, Brazil. There he learned to become an adroit and versatile pianist. He launched his professional career at the time when bossa nova was slowly exerting its influence. He readily basked in the delights of the fusion of jazz and Latin music. Eventually, he shared the stage with Jobim and singer Astrud Gilberto in various joints in Rio de Janiero.

Then he formed the group Bossa Nova Trio and captivated Europe in 1963, where they joined numerous jazz festivals. In 1964, he packed his bags to fly to New York to capitalize on the immense popularity of bossa nova in the US. There, he collaborated with Art Farmer, Bud Shank, vocalist Wanda de Sah, Jobim, and various artists in recording bossa nova music.

With the formation of Brasil ’66, the path was set for the imminent soaring of Mendes. The group’s first blockbuster was Mais Que Nada.

Sergio Mendes is the only remaining original member of the Brasil ’66. Brasil ’66 became Brasil ’77 and much much later Brasil ’99. Great artists like Lani Hall, Diane Reeves and Seida Garreth were former members of the Brasil groups.

"Every time there is a new band member, he brings his own new energy that makes it very interesting," Mendes said.

His eyes light up and he gasps "Ah yes!" when he is asked if he has any message to young musicians. "Just do what you love. Stay with your passion. Keep on doing it. Hardwork. Just stay with the music you love. Don’t try to be trendy. Just follow your heart."

His latest Manila concert will feature "songs that many in the audience will hear for the first time."

"There is a section of the show which I dedicated to percussion elements of Brazil. There will be a lot of percussion. I have a great percussion from Brazil. We will do songs from the album Brasiliero," he said.

Mendes cannot think of any group that sounds like his group. "It’s a unique kind of sound. I don’t know of any band, maybe there’s one," he said.

As to his relationship with Jobim – a man described as his good friend and mentor – Mendes said Jobim is "by far the most important composer."

On the topic of future projects, Mendes said he would like to try singing a Filipino song and to have a reunion concert with Hall and Reeves, whom he still meets.

Meantime, he is in the thick of preparing a new album that is expected to be released next year under the Universal label.