Rustic Materials is an American band and the musical project of Bill Broadfoot. So Many Stars is the first single by Rustic Materials. The single is a joint release of Rustic Materials and vocalist Becky Bynum. So Many Stars is música brasileira, i.e., Brazilian music. Specifically, So Many Stars is in the style of Brazilian popular music known as Bossa Nova, a style which in the 1960s became popular in America. In the tradition of Bossa Nova’s progenitors, Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Luiz Bonfá and João Donato, Sergio Mendes' composition refines the rhythms of Samba, and blends these rhythms with colorful melody and sophisticated harmony. Mendes’ often-covered classic comes here with some twists. Situated in the place of the traditional Bossa Nova guitar are Portuguese-made baritone and tenor ukuleles with special tunings. As the above suggests, though ukuleles are present, be forewarned: this is not Hawaiian music. Nor is it comedy using ukuleles as a prop. Not that there is anything whatsoever wrong with such and, of course, music can speak for itself. The melodica is also heard throughout the song. The melodica is an acoustic wind instrument with a piano keyboard, and a favorite instrument of Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal. The solo section contains an original horn arrangement by Bill Broadfoot inspired by legendary jazz arranger Gil Evans. The musicians for So Many Stars are: Bill Broadfoot - melodica, horn arrangement, baritone ukulele and tenor ukulele; Becky Broadfoot Bynum - vocal; Rafael Pereira - percussion (percussão brasileira); Robert Dickson – acoustic bass; Bob Lewis - flute, alto flute, muted trumpet, trombone and French horn. So Many Stars was recorded and mixed by Martin Kearns of Down in Deep, at 800 East Studios in Atlanta, and mastered at Abbey Road in London. It was produced by Rustic Materials, with essential assistance from Mr. Kearns. Enjoy! (Song license info: Composed by Sergio Mendes, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman, So Many Stars is licensed to Rustic Materials and Becky Bynum for this single through Spirit Services Holdings and Warner Chappell Music.) (Cover art info: The cover art for this single includes material adapted from a photograph by Philipp Salzgeber on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. The photo is entitled “Comet-Hale-Bopp-29-03-1997. jpeg,” and may be found within the encyclopedia entry “Comet Hale-Bopp.” Within the same encyclopedia entry is located the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license. Rustic Materials and Becky Bynum are licensed under said license to reproduce and commercially adapt said photo for the cover art. )