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Those who believe
Brazilian jazz is a fad, a phase or landlocked by the Bossa Nova haven't
been paying attention. RIO STRUT proudly serves notice that one
of the world's most beautiful natural harbors is also home to some of
the most incisive, inventive and – still – influential creative
music being made today. The message is
delivered by the Brazil All Stars, a collective that represents the
aristocracy of Brazil's legends and newest talent – many who record
for producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro's progressive JSR (Jazz Station Records)
label. But RIO STRUT is
no mere collection of various artists, working independent of one
another either. Taking a cue from producer Creed Taylor's formidable
Fuse One project from the early 80s, DeSouteiro has conceived RIO
STRUT as a forum for these leaders to interact together. It's the essence of
jazz. Each star lends his or her artistry to each other for the benefit
of the whole. Now, props for the Brazil All Stars. Thiago de
Mello is possibly the most imaginative of
Brazil's many famed percussionists. He's conceived a rhythmic language
all his own, derived mostly from a variety of instruments he's invented
– many made from pieces of wood, turtle shells and other organic
ephemera found in and around the Amazon rainforest. Before becoming a
full time musician, though, de Mello was a champion soccer coach. But
after coming to the United States in 1966, de Mello began to fulfill his
musical dreams. With some guidance and encouragement from Gil Evans, de
Mello formed the Amazon Band – which included Claudio Roditi –
regularly packing New York's famed Sweet Basil club as well as festivals
throughout the world. Recently, de Mello recorded the Grammy-nominated JOURNEY
TO THE AMAZON (Teldec) with Sharon Isbin and Paul Winter and even
scored a dance-floor hit with the infectious "Mei Boi Bumbá."
Here, his contagious charm insinuates with "Macumba Chant,"
which he dedicates to fellow percussionist Dom Um Romão and features
Claudio Roditi's scintillating trumpet work. Eumir Deodato
has worked all sides of the music business and all points on the map.
While still a teen, he was a highly prolific arranger and pianist in
Rio's studios. Inspired by Henry Mancini, but guided by a muse all his
own, he formed the legendary Os Catedraticos (which, early on, featured
Dom Um Romão's drums) recording a number of legendary albums of
first-tier jazz. In 1967, Luiz Bonfá encouraged Deodato to move to the
United States, where he arranged for everyone from Jobim and Sinatra to
Wes and Aretha. By 1973, he scored the year's biggest hit, "Also
Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" – from his American debut, PRELUDE
(CTI). He gathered more dance-floor hits before shifting gears in the
early 1980s to become a highly successful producer of soul/R&B acts
like Kool & The Gang and Gwen Guthrie. In addition to contributions
to other such DeSouteiro productions as Luiz Bonfá’s THE BONFA
MAGIC (Milestone MCD-9202) and Ithamara Koorax’s SERENADE IN
BLUE (JSR/Milestone MCD-9301), Deodato can also be heard on the
recent hits of Bjork and Carlinhos Brown. Here, the maestro sets in
motion the mood and title for this collection. "Rio Strut" is
a smooth, funky swagger that's imbued with the classic cleverness of the
other struts Deodato's taken before – from 1973's "Super
Strut" (CTI) and 1974's "Havana Strut" (MCA) to 1975's
"Watusi Strut" (MCA) and 1980's "East Side Strut"
(Warner Bros.). Little wonder why Rio's proud. The lovely voice of Palmyra
and the gentle guitar of Paulo Levita make for an enchanting
chemistry. Here, the couple from Bahia – recommended to the JSR label
by João Gilberto – muse upon "Rapunzel," co-written by
Bahia's superstar drummer/singer Carlinhos Brown, in collaboration with
the electric punctuation of guitarist Aroldo Macedo, member of
Bahia's famed trio elétrico, Dodo & Osmar. Palmyra & Levita
also pair here with bossa nova legend, pianist and songwriter João
Donato for a lovely cover of Donato's standard, "A Rã.” Jorge Pescara
and Laudir de Oliveira collaborate here on a remarkable journey
through Deodato's "Viúva Negra." Few electric bassists are
able to carry melody lines or solo as effectively as Pescara does here
(only Stanley Clarke, Tony Levin and Jaco Pastorius come to mind).
Pescara – a veteran of Dom Um Romão's touring group and Ithamara
Koorax's Drum 'n' Bossa band – uses his own two-handed tapping
technique to deliver his individual punch (and a thoroughly unique horn
arrangement featuring oboe, bassoon, French horn and flugelhorn).
Driving the rhythm is percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, one of Brazil's
first percussionists to add his rhythmic talents to the American pop of
Chicago (“If You Leave Me Now,” “Baby, What A Big Surprise”),
the Jacksons and Joe Cocker in addition to work with Sergio Mendes,
Airto, Dori Caymmi, Chick Corea, Sadao Watanabe and Earl Klugh. Composer Carlos
Pingarilho has written standards for Bossa Nova legends Marcos
Valle, Pery Ribeiro & Bossa 3, Deodato, Luiz Bonfá and Leny
Andrade. He's also the co-writer of the classic “Seu Encanto (The Face
I Love),” recorded by both Sarah Vaughan and Astrud Gilberto and
"Astronauta (Samba da Pergunta)," covered by such heavyweights
as João Gilberto, Laurindo Almeida, and Joyce. Pingarilho left the
music scene for a little while in the 1970s, but has lately been heard
coming into his own as an especially fine guitarist and affecting
vocalist. One needs little better proof than his ethereal "Samba de
Luar." Heard with Pingarilho here is Paula Faour, Jorge Pescara (on
upright bass), Thiago de Mello and Dom Um Romao – who covered two
equally endearing Pingarilho jewels on 1998's RHYTHM TRAVELLER (JSR),
Pingarilho's first recording session ever as a singer/guitarist after
nearly four decades as a songwriter. Trumpeter Cláudio
Roditi plays comfortably and commandingly in styles ranging from bop
and samba to modal and pop. Since he relocated to the U.S. from Rio in
the early 1970s, he's recorded in many notable aggregates, including
those of Gary Bartz, Herbie Mann, Mark Murphy, New York Voices and McCoy
Tyner. His best work is heard with Paquito D'Rivera, Charlie Rouse and
Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra as well as on his own
sessions, which started with 1984's Creed Taylor-produced, RED ON RED
(CTI/Greenestreet). Here, Roditi blends his multiple talents to come up
with the fiery and festive "Xaxado Quente" (a fast dance in a
hot style). Boasting Roditi's nimble and lively solo, "Xaxado
Quente" also features Jorge Pescara playing the celebratory
electric bass solo. Dino Rangel
has been hailed by Guitar Player magazine as a guitarist who "makes
fine jazz of good taste, mixing Brazilian popular music to create
beautiful harmonies and melodies." Rangel, like Ithamara Koorax,
hails from the picturesque city of Niterói, across from Rio de Janeiro
on the Guanabara Bay. The two often perform together with famed drummer
João Palma's group, in whose band Rangel is a regular member. Here, the
guitarist reflects on Jobim's lovely "Antigua," first heard on
the composer's 1967 album, WAVE (A&M/CTI). The beautiful and
bewitching Ithamara Koorax impresses the ears in much the same
way she beguiles the eye. Classically trained and blessed with a
stunning four-octave range, Koorax can sing in any style imaginable –
from torch, pop or rock to jazz, bossa or avant garde – with
conviction and individuality. A pop star in her native Brazil ("Cristal,"
"Illuminada") and a dance-floor diva in Japan and London,
Koorax evinces a most remarkable range, particularly on her gorgeous
American debut, SERENADE IN BLUE (JSR/Milestone), which was acclaimed by
Japan’s jazz bible, Swing Journal, and led her to be voted among the
best jazz singers in Down Beat’s 2000 Readers Poll. Here, she pairs
with another member of the JSR cast, legendary drummer and percussionist
Dom Um Romão, for the classic Jorge Ben hit "Mas Que
Nada," in a live version recorded at London's Candem Town Jazz
Festival. Koorax's breathtaking exposition is funkier here than on her
two previous recordings of the song and dances delightfully with the
energetic drums of Dom Um Romão, who played on Ben's original 1963
recording and, at age 76, is becoming a dance-floor star in his own
right. Keyboard player Paula
Faour was discovered by producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro at a 1998 Sivuca
concert featuring Hermeto Pascoal. DeSouteiro soon recommended Fauor for
Dom Um Romao and Ithamara Koorax's groups. In addition to these gigs,
she continues to play with Sivuca while also leading her own trio. Ms.
Faour possesses the unique talent to imbue any keyboard she touches with
her own signature of sound. But when she wants to – as she did on Dom
Um Romao's tribute to Walter Wanderley, "Sambão," from LAKE
OF PERSEVERANCE (JSR/Irma) – she knows how to quote with amazing
clarity. On "Flyin' To Rio," she works her melodic talents
into a sort of contemporary House samba in collaboration with Rio's
famed disc jockey, DJ Fino, alternating moods with electric piano
and synthesizer. It's DJ Fino's Batucada sample toward the end of this
melodic number that flows into Claudio Roditi's atmospheric closer,
"Cidade Maravilhosa," and dreamily brings us back home. Douglas Payne |
| www.dougpayne.com |
RIO
STRUT