In recent years I have been sent quite a lot of Brazilian music, something I never used to get in the past, which probably shows just how popular it is becoming, and I am now very aware indeed of the compositions of the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim (whose “Passarim” is the opening cut). Here we have singer and composer Catina DeLuna again working with pianist/composer/arranger Otmaro Ruíz, following on from their first album together in 2016. That album, ‘Lado B Brazilian Project’, took a different path to many as instead of concentrating just on the classics and standards it instead highlights obscure Brazilian gems and offering reinvented versions of well-known classics.
Recorded with guitarist Larry Koonse and bassist Edwin Livingston, it was very well received indeed, and now they have all returned with an expanded band which includes Brazilian drumming legend Edu Ribeiro, percussionist Gregory Beyer, and Los Angeles woodwind great Bob Sheppard. The songs are taken from a multitude of sources, yet the arrangements have helped smooth out any rough edges so instead this feels like a collection from the same composer. There is a deftness of touch, a hidden passion, which makes this a delight to discover. Catina has a wonderfully clear vocal style, and when guest singer Fabio Cadore brings in his warmer and broader style it stands out even more. This is music which contains the Latin soul and style of the Americas, and while there is a lot going on in the arrangements, space and restraint are also incredibly important. I am intrigued to wonder what I would think if I knew the originals, as it would be interesting to compare, but this is still very much a genre I am coming to terms with, so all I can say is that the combinations make me thing of summer, serenity and peace, and that cannot be a bad thing.
Rating: 8/10
Links:
https://www.catinadeluna.com/
https://www.otmaro.com/
https://www.sunnysiderecords.com/