Dan Costa: “Love Dance” with Ivan Lins

The pianist Dan Costa, who has distinguished himself with several recordings including a critically acclaimed album, Skyness (2018) has released what promises to be his most eloquent song yet: this, of course, “Love Dance”, a song composed by the iconic Brasilian musician Ivan Lins, written together with Gilson Peranzzetta, Vitor Martins and Paul Williams. The song, written in 1980, was first recorded by George Benson in 1981 before Mr Lins released his own version. Since then it has become one of the most recorded songs in contemporary music and has been covered by Sarah Vaughan, Barbra Streisand, and Diane Schuur, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson and other singers.

And now, Mr Lins – one of the most decorated Brasilian artists, the only Portuguese-language artist to be awarded the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year (2005) – joins Dan Costa in what is perhaps the most intimate version of “Love Dance”. The duet means much to both musicians, who live in opposite ends of the world but whose countries have both been hit hard by the pandemic of 2020. Mr Costa, born in London (UK) to an Italian and Portuguese family,  has a message for everyone who has been affected by being deprived of socializing with even close family. He opines that the unique message of their version of Mr Lins’ special song is clear: “I believe that this is a message of love and happiness for the world, in a complex historical moment…”