I guess it is my age, but I still like physical releases as opposed to digital, and when someone puts effort into it then all the better. Here we have the second in what may well be a three-volume series by Albare, and in the digipak we get information from Albare talking about why this music is so important to him while the booklet contains one page dedicated to telling the listener about each musician, with the following page being a full-page photo. This all provides the listener with something to look at and read while also concentrating on the music, which is how we all used to listen to music back in the day when it was an end to itself as opposed to something going on in the background.

Albare has long been established as a wonderful jazz guitarist with a deft touch and understanding, yet here again we see him working in the field of bossa nova, playing the music of Antonio Carlos Tom Jobim who captured the imagination of Moroccan born Albert Dadon when he was just 14. Here Albare has brought in some fine musicians (and lush orchestration) to allow him to concentrate on just providing the melody and letting everything else happen behind him. There is a swing, a soul, to these proceedings. There is no flash ego on show, this is all about paying tribute and sticking closely to original songs while making them perfect for an electric guitarist and his band. There are times when he feels it is better for one of the others to take the lead, and readily moves out of the spotlight as this is all about providing the best tribute possible to the “Father of Bossa Nova”. I thoroughly enjoyed the first album in this series, and I truly hope that Albare does decide to work on a third as he truly does bring this music back to life.

Rating: 9/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/AlbareJazz
https://www.alfirecords.com/