So it was no surprise to discover that Nando Lauria, who studied at Boston's Berklee College of Music as a vocal student has played with the Pat Metheny Group as well as Terence Blanchard and Special EFX. Here is a Brazilian musician who has helped to shape the sound of a generation of jazz fans by embracing the natural beauty of his native country. Novo Brasil's exciting rhythms capture the listener from the very first moments of "Doce Morena" (Sweet Brunette), the opening title of this 10-track CD. And others, such as "Shall We?" and "Dreaming of You" with their intoxicating melodies and Lauria's tribute to his hometown "Thinking of Recife" set the stage for an exciting blend of contemporary Brazilian jazz. Novo Brasil places Nando Lauria at the top as a master musician with a knack for taking your imagination on a journey you'll never forget.
Released in the Fall of 1995, Jesse Cook's debut Tempest CD tacks a different course guided by the same musical winds. Born of the gypsy neighborhoods of Andalusia in southern Spain, rumba flamenco is typified by its restless passion and Afro Cuban rhythms. But unlike the pop driven sameness of Ottmar Liebert, the Paris born Cook revels in the sensitivity of his musical form. Each of the 10 tracks avoids the expected by delivering a brace of creative selections that build upon the flamenco style without abusing it. The title track opens Jesse Cook's debut CD with a flash of color and enthusiasm: you can almost see the dance unfold before you. "Baghdad" creates a sense of déjà vu, recalling Greg Lake's stunning years with Emerson Lake & Palmer. And while Jesse Cook's persuasive style on "Orbit" and "Jumpstart" can build on the excitement of flamenco's bold personality, others, including the pensive "Parasol" and "Soledad" (a ballad) will become lasting favorites, too.
For more than a decade now, singer Tânia Maria has set the standard by which all other Brazilian/American performers might be judged. Her flamboyant style and always upbeat musical perspective take an acoustic turn with her new TKM release Bluesilian, and have led many to wonder if she is the modern reincarnation of Carmen Miranda. But forget the tutti-frutti hat; it's been replaced with a true tie for the 90s, more in keeping with the totally modern Tânia's place in both the society of musicians and the country which she now calls home. And where Carmen Miranda came as a musical ambassador and left a star, Tânia Maria now fills that same role by virtue of her star power.
Bluesilian is the latest in a string of recordings that have helped Tânia Maria to expand her talents beyond the usual description of a Brazilian singer. Yes, she can conjure up those instant images of magical Brazil, but just as easily pull out the cultural stops and launch full speed ahead into her Afro-Brazilian roots with results that are breathtaking. And Bluesilian, as its name implies, is an amazing collage of the blues as seen through the been there, done that eyes of Tânia Maria. Bluesilian opens with "Yes Is The Way To Go," a rockish urban tune with a Carioca tick that's full of life and more than a little self confidence: "Hey, let's go, don't be afraid to break the rules. Don't say no, yes is the way to go." Equally enjoyable is the good advice offered up in "Please Me," with its R&B flair: "So be nice to the woman, and be kind to the girl. 'Cause if you please them both, you will never fail."
Some of the best moments on Bluesilian are reserved for Maria's quiet side. "Feeling the Air" is a peacefully acoustic jazz/blues with Maria's soft vocaleze trailing behind the melody and "Reborada" (The Day After) swings with a cosmopolitan groove. Others, including "All Alone Together," the album's title track and "Eric's Blues" capture the magical essence of the blues. Tânia Maria's inspiration comes from many familiar faces in the world of music: Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, U-2 and the Cranberries, to name but a few artists she thanks in her liner notes. With Bluesilian, its obvious that she's put that inspiration to good use, by creating an album that's totally in keeping with her exuberant personality
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