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German Bense
1963 - German Bense was born in Montevideo, Uruguay
1977 - Begun piano and theory studies at the “Instituto Kölischer” (until 1979).
1979 - Begun guitar and bass studies at the “Centro Musical Moderno” with the master Juan Lamas. Performs as guitarist in a bossa nova band that won the Uruguayan TV Conquest “Estudiantina”.
1981 - Performs in a dixieland band called “Luisiana Jazz Band”.
1982 - Begun his professional musician career performing guitar and bass guitar in Montevideo's night clubs. Wrote his first own songs that year. 1983 - Performs in a brazilian music band called “Turbilhao” that play the whole year in differents Montevideo's night clubs.
1984 - Won the “Revelation Award” in the “Festival de La Paz”, Canelones, Uruguay (Uruguayan Popular Music).
1985 - Begun an ininterrupted activity at differents Montevideo's clubs (until 1995). The highlighted appareances of that period are the followings:
-Guitarist, bassist and singer at “Clave de Fu”, a legendary Montevideo's brazilian music night club. Integrates the “Fernado Torrado trio” (Clave de Fu owner) and co-write many songs with him (songs that are included in the Fernando Torrado's discography) -1986: Bass guitarist and arranger of the Mario “Chichito” Cabral band, mythical Uruguayan percussonist and composer. -Between 1992 and 1995 share with the Uruguayan singer Liese Lange a duo called “Bossa Nostra”, since today remembered as a Montevideo music classic.
1989 - Record and publish his first album, “Despues de todo”, shared with the songwriter Jorge Alastra (Perro Andaluz Records).
1990 - Record and publish his second album called “Quimera” (Perro Andaluz Records).
1991 - Make a gigs series in wich he invites to share the scene others songwriters of his generation. They are: Claudio Taddei and Rossana Taddei, Jorge Alastra, Liese Lange and Jorge Drexler (who 14 years later won the “Oscar Award”)
1995 - Stop his musician professional activity for personal resons until the year 2000. 2000 - Inagurtes his first Internet music site at “mp3.com”
2001 - Record and publish his 3rd album (his first whole bossa nova album) called “Opus Bossa Nova” (Mp3.com Records).
2002 - Record and publish a new bossa nova album called “Desafinados como eu” (Mp3.com Records). December
2002: his songs “Barco sin puerto” and “A dream that to fullfil” reach the ..1 in the mp3.com bossa nova and jazz charts. Return to the live performances in Uruguay.
2004 - His song “Desafinados como Eu” is included in the music band of the film “Falling”, by the New York independent Producer and Director Clayton Allys.
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"Brazilian rhythms and vocal harmonies are performed with dexterity and passion by German Bense. A fabulous memento of Stan Getz's bossified era, the music faithfully imparts a sense of nostalgia, while retaining the unique blend of its Afro-Uruguayan style."
Lance-K at "Gods of Music"
"...It has just enough off intonation in the male vocal line to remind one of the earnest offerings of Astrud Gilberto or her ex Giao (Joao Gilberto), and in a sense recalls the American Michael Franks with respect to smooth whisper quality. Overall excellent smooth jazz bossa nova worthy of any mellow cafe gathering or romantic mood..."
