Thanksgiving 2022. I traveled up to Boston to spend the holiday with Ran Blake—something of an unspoken tradition by now. While most people gather with relatives, I return to Ran, who became my chosen family when he was my teacher at New England Conservatory.
These days, I bring my own family—my partner André Matos and our son Lourenzo—and together we make our way to Ran’s Brookline basement. It’s a space overflowing with books, files, and posters from decades past. We cook dinner, watch films, make music.
That year, Ran mentioned he wanted to record some Tom Jobim songs in his living room. I said yes—why not? I’ve always loved Jobim’s music, though I’ve often kept a respectful distance. Some songs feel too intimate, too sacred to touch. But this time, I embraced the challenge. Talia, one of Ran’s students, set up the mics, and we recorded a few takes of each tune—quietly, simply, as if we were just rehearsing, letting the music unfold on its own terms.
Ran still records regularly from his living room—one song a week, practiced and filmed for his YouTube channel. The tradition continues—mysterious, intimate, and full of soul. As we celebrate Ran’s 90th birthday, I hope you enjoy this session as much as we did creating it.
