Biscoito Fino Records....

The idea of starting the record company Biscoito Fino began with the project, ComPasso Samba & Choro, developed by Olivia Hime, at the invitation of Kati Almeida Braga, in the Paço Imperial in Rio de Janeiro. Enthusiastic about that series of presentations, with musicians the caliber of Guinga, Cristina Buarque, Yamandu Costa, Miúcha, Francis Hime, Zezé Gonzaga and many others, Olivia and Kati decided to record the CDs of the shows. Their enthusiasm grew beyond just the CDs and the team aimed for an independent record company, proudly unconcerned about market tendencies. At first, Biscoito Fino edited songs by old and new composers, recorded and distributed CDs. Today, with its own studio and equipment available to musicians, Biscoito doesn´t want, to paraphrase Noel Rosa, smother anyone, but only to show that it also makes the best Brazilian popular music.

Since the writer Oswald de Andrade coined the expression “biscoito fino (fine cookie),” it has become synonymous with something selected, of high quality. Responding to comments that he was not understood by the man of the street, Oswald quipped, “the masses will some day eat the fine cookie that I produce” - a prophecy remembered 60 years later by another poet and writer, Geraldinho Carneiro, who, upon discovering that Kati and Olivia intended to set up a record company made up of the highest level of Brazilian music, exclaimed: “But what you are going to do is make a biscoito fino.” The name was baptized.

Almost five years after producing its first CD, Biscoito Fino has already released more than 150 titles. All, or almost all, of the music is popular, but there is nothing orthodox about it. One of the first releases is a collection of the work of the erudite composer, Cláudio Santoro. The flexibility of Biscoito Fino also opened the way for CDs of instrumental music, like Francis Hime´s Meus Caros Pianistas, Homenagem a Luiz Eça, by the french master Michel Legrand, and the first CD of the choro group Tira Poeira.

Olivia Hime, musical director of the record company, considers one of her utmost functions, even more important than looking for talent, to be that of selecting musicians that have an affinity with Biscoito Fino. This is because, she admits, in Brazil talent blooms so easily that three record companies would be needed to record everything. When choosing between a musician with good selling potential but not really in tune with genuine brazilian music and another, less commercialized, but with more consistent work, she doesn´t think twice: the second one is the one for Biscoito Fino. Here are some examples: Luciana Souza, singer, composer and instrumentalist, living in the United States; Lucinha Lins singing Suely Costa, Olivia Byington re-recording Canções do Amor Demais, by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, released by Elizeth Cardoso and also a salute by Olivia herself to Dorival Caymmi in her latest CD, Mar de Algodão.

“The role of Biscoito Fino,” - says Olivia - “is to open space for the richness of brazilian music. If the whole world is consuming brazilian music and it is our prime natural resource, why not consume it here too?” And Biscoito has put things in gear by releasing compositions by Francis Hime, Sérgio Santos and Joyce, and recording with singers like Mônica Salmaso, Bibi Ferreira and Zé Renato .

Not satisfied with just releasing and re-releasing quality CDs, Biscoito Fino has widened its compromise with the vast patrimony of brazilian music by recuperating unknown choro relics, in partnership with Acari Records, and promoting the project Centro Petrobras de Referência da Música Brasileira (Petrobras Center of Reference for brazilian Music). Working together with the Instituto Moreira Salles (Moreira Salles Institute) and sponsored by Petrobras, this project has put together the largest collection of phonograms from the mechanical era and the first electric recordings in Brazil. This collection is also open for people who are interested in the preservation of brazilian music.

In 2002, Biscoito Fino contracted singer Maria Bethânia and in October of that year released Maricotinha ao Vivo, the CD that follows the 35-year career of one of the greatest interpreters of razilian popular music. Also by Maria Bethânia, Biscoito Fino still has in its catalogue the DVD, Maricotinha ao Vivo, the CD Cânticos Preces Súplicas à Senhora dos Jardins do Céu and her latest release: Que Falta Você me Faz - on which Bethânia pays a tribute to the poet, Vinicius de Moraes.

In 2005, BF completes its fifth aniversary and will reach the outstanding number of 150 titles in its catalogue, among CDs, DVDs and collections, exclusive or in partnership with the labels connected to the recording company: Quelé (a partnership between BF and Acari Records), Jobim Biscoito Fino (on which in 2004 released the unedited CD, Antonio Carlos Jobim em Minas ao vivo Piano e Voz), Biscoitinho (a label dedicated to children’s music) and Quitanda (a partnership of Maria Bethânia with Kati Almeida Braga, responsible for releases such as Brasileirinho, also by Bethânia).
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