Product Description:Amazon.ca
Après avoir écoulé pas moins de 50 000 copies de leur premier album auto-produit, le tandem québécois de néo-bossa Bet.e & Stef fait son entrée par la grande porte chez le géant du jazz Verve. Day By Day s’avère l’antidote idéal au spleen de l’automne, nous transportant sur les plages de Rio avec des pièces teintées de bleu azur, caressées de la voix évanescente, au grain sablonneux, d’Élizabeth Provencher et de celle, rassurante et placide, de Stéphane Carreau. La jeune paire maîtrise la langue portugaise comme si elle l’avait toujours chantée, harmonieuse et sensuelle. Plus qu’un simple hommage au Brésil, Day By Day surprend par son orchestration riche, d’une irrésistible élégance. Les arrangements de Michel Pépin (Emmylou Harris, Rufus Wainwright) confèrent à l’ensemble une impression d’achèvement jusque dans ses plus intimes détails. Le duo a aussi incorporé deux chansons en français, "Il n’aurait fallu" (Aragon/Ferré) et "Vagabond" (Henri Salvador), séduisante initiative qui augure bien pour la suite. Une valeur sûre. --Claude Côté
----
Editorial Reviews:About the Artist:
By assimilating, and evolving the music of Brazil's bossa nova originators, Canadian duo Bet.e & Stef has soared from performing in clubs and bistros in Montréal to performing in Japan within a three -year span.
Bet.e & Stef's singular take on Brazilian rhythms resulted in their striking 10-song debut CD, "Jazz/Bossa Nova" in 1998. Produced by Stef and Marc Dessaulles, it featured such bossa nova favourites as "So Danço Samba," and "One Note Samba."
Self-distributed and without even an issuing-label name, the CD has been an unparalleled success. Sales of jazz albums in Canada--for either international or domestic acts--rarely top 10,000 units. "Jazz/Bossa Nova," however, has soared to "gold" status (50,000 units), with sales primarily in Québec.
"That's never been done by an indie jazz band in Canada," says Bet.e "People just keep asking for it. They respond to the sincerity of it. There's a freshness and naiveté there. The songs are beautiful, and it sounds like two young cats just singing their hearts out."
From age 16, Stef played guitar in jazz and rock bands in Montréal. At 21, he traveled to Paris for four years to study vocal jazz, piano, and arranging. During his time there, he became attracted to the city's Latin music scene, and fell in love with the works of Brazil bossa nova's elder statesmen, Bahian singer/guitarist João Gilberto, pianist/arranger Antonio Carlos Jobim, Toquinho, and poet/lyricist/ diplomat Vinicius de Moraes.
Returning to Montréal —"I needed to go back to my roots and see my friends"—Stef then performed for two years with a band on the local club circuit.
Growing up in Trois-Rivières, Québec, in a musical family, Bet.e went to college in Montréal to study psychology, and then communications. She dabbled in theater, had a radio show on CIBL in Montréal, and studied modern dance for several years. When she decided to become a singer, Stef helped her by recording tapes of vocal exercises for her to do. He also introduced her to bossa nova.
"I fell in love with bossa nova," recalls Bet.e whose musical roots include '60s-style R&B. "I just immersed myself in the language, rhythm, and styles. I was bowled over by how beautiful this music was."
Bet.e & Stef's first engagement together happened when Bet.e's sister asked them to perform at her wedding. But it would be a year before the pair started performing regularly together, opting instead to build up their repertoire, work out arrangements for the songs and practice the Portuguese sounds, as well as their singing together as a duo. Several gigs in restaurants and private parties helped cement their partnership. In short time, the duo became a fixture in Montréal's lively lounge scene.
Bet.e adds, "Our relationship works because we both love bossa nova, jazz, and music in general. Also, our voices blend well together and the bond we’ve developed grows stronger every day."
Product Description:The very character of Bet.e & Stef's new album "Day By Day" is its intimacy and timelessness. Despite being complex and witty overall, its music feels natural and universal. Primarily produced by Bet.e & Stef with producer/arranger Michel Pépin, who has worked with Rufus Wainwright, and Emmy Lou Harris, it features gentle and reserved guitar by Stef who has a smooth precise voice; Bet.e's wonderful velvety vocals; and sparse, tasteful accompaniment.
"We try not to clutter up the songs," explains Bet.e. "We are with the 'less is more' approach. Pauses speak just as much as the notes and make listeners appreciate what's coming."
Adds Stef, "We're trying to stay timeless with our music."
The album features a body of superb originals including the title track "Day By Day," as well as "All is Well," "I'm There," "Wish You Well," "Lying Game," "Listen To The Night," and "It's Over."
About the song "Day By Day," Bet.e says, "The chorus' lyrics, 'Strength is not a stranger, I take it day by day,' represent our philosophy quite well."
Adds Stef about "All is Well," "I wrote that song with all my love to my newborn son. It marked the debut of my new life as a father."
There are outstanding covers of Brazilian repertoire including: "Zana," and Regra Tres," both written by pioneering Brazilian singer/guitarist Antonio Petti Filho, known as Toquinho; "Vagabond," originally sung by French vocalist Henri Salvador; and " Só Tinha de Ser Com Você," penned by Antonio Carlos Jobim, one of Brazil's most creative musicians.
"We rearranged 'Zana' considerably" says Stef. "It was already a party song. We took it one step further by adding modulation, and Bet.e sings it with a R&B feeling."
----
Customer Reviews:5.0 out of 5 stars - Outstanding - February 1, 2004
By Vranjo
To the traditional bossa nova meal, this duo adds a dash of North American pop sensibility, a teaspooon of traditional jazz vocalization, a pinch of "world music" eclecticism, and even an extra dash of humor every now and then. What comes out of the oven is an album that some purists might dismiss as inauthentic, but this criticism could not be further from the truth. These musicians have taken the bossa nova spirit and have made it authentically their own. Like all the best bossa albums, this one is playful, heartfelt, and achieves an amazing alchemy of warm and cool. If you're not an experienced bossa listener, you may not even initially notice the little innovations on this album, and will soon be tapping your foot to the sheer bossaness of it. As for longtime lovers of the genre, I think that if you listen to this album with an ear for this century instead of the last one, you will enjoy it as much as I do, and will appreciate the fact that this duo is helping to keep the genre not only alive, but also growing.
--
5.0 out of 5 stars - Just gets better with repeated listening - September 6, 2003
By J. Fink
I first heard this group on a United Airlines audio compilation of recent Canadian pop music. It took a while to track down, and the price was rather steep, but the CD was instantly accessible and enjoyable. It has yet to become stale after dozens of listens. The combination of Brazilian, French, and Spanish influences contributes to the freshness. The voices are smooth and the background instrumentals bounce along with clear rhythms and catchy beats. An all around winning album that is difficult to not get excited about.
--
5.0 out of 5 stars - Cannot Miss - December 20, 2003
By A Customer
My favourite Jazz genre. Awesome sounding and arrangement. Best bossa nova I've ever listened to.
--
5.0 out of 5 stars - Bossa nova from Montréal, Québec, Canada - April 9, 2003
By Daniel Larocque
"Joy and celebration" are the first two words that come up when I think about this album. Bet.e & Stef's sensuous voices and stylish bossa nova sound will caress your soul like a gentle summer brise. If you are into bossa nova or if you plan on giving it a try, this CD is a "must".
--
5.0 out of 5 stars - Best album from Bet.e and Stef. - December 9, 2013
By Bill P
Bet.e was terrific with Stef. This is their best effort together. Must have for jazz lovers. I plan to check out her solo album soon.
--
5.0 out of 5 stars - Play It from Beginning to the End - Dec 27 2006
By Bonger
Discovered the CD in the listening booths of HMV....unbelievably good! Excellent recording, singing, lyrics, true arrtist, too bad they are no longer together.
If you like bossanova type music, do not hesitate to buy this CD
Other Customer Reviews at Amazon:http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/B00006RG7Phttp://www.amazon.com/Day-Bet-Stef/product-reviews/B00006RG7P 
