Caetano Veloso: Noites do Norte ao Vivo

World and Bahian Accents

The musicians Caetano gathered for his Noites do Norte tour were among the best! Davi Moraes (guitar, bandolim), Pedro Sá (bass and guitars), Cesinha (drums) and four super percussionists: Marcio Vittor, Andre Júnior, Eduardo Josino and vice versa (Josino Eduardo…) and, of course, Jacques Morelenbaum. As on the studio version, here too the percussionists make you listen over and over again to the album. There’s so much going on in their performances; influences from all over the world with a very strong Bahian accent. The way the (1 minute) percussion-only accompanied “Sugar Cane Fields Forever” changes colour is just breathtaking. As is the way it flows over into the fragile “Noites do Norte,” which has a percussion interlude towards the very African-Brazilian sounding “13 de Maio.” “Haiti” has another impressive (more aggressive?) arrangement. Lulu Santos’ big hit “Último Romântico” is accompanied only by cello, and then it suddenly sounds like a Caetano song… The way he can make a song his own is funny to notice! Also funny because you’d expect special guest Lulu Santos to appear here, but no… The following episode on the CD set is not very surprising. It’s on “Cobra Coral” that we finally hear guest Lulu Santos. He also stays on stage during his own written “Como Uma Onda,” which I prefer so much more in his own interpretation. Luiz Melodia’s “Magrelinha” sounds great, with bassist Pedro Sá on guitar. “Zera a Reza” also sounds great with an ugly male choir, strong beat, light percussion, viol‹o, electric guitar chords, falsetto voice. Wonderful. “Menino do Rio” sounds as nice as always; strong samba percussion. “Meu Rio” finds Davi Moraes beautiful on bandolim. “Gatas Extraordinárias” has an audience pleasing arrangement. “Língua” swings like hell, despite the complicated lyrics. Crazy Morelenbaum on a celluíca, sounding like a cuíca. Unfortunately it sounds a bit messy towards the end. Morelenbaum also shines with a magnificent solo on “Cajuína.” Morelenbaum’s solo plays with the melody line till the bottom… All this makes it a very good document of the “Noites do Norte” tour.