A World of Brazil
— It’s been a while since Ceumar stopped by here at MúsicaBrasileira.org. Of course there was Viola Perfumosa (a project with Lui Coimbra (cello) and Paulo Freire (viola caipira)) in 2018, but for Ceumar’s last album under her own name, we have to go back to 2014 with Silencia! At that time Ceumar was still living in Amsterdam, Holland. A few years later the singer, composer and guitarist from Itanhandú (Minas Gerais) decided to go back to Brazil and continue her impressive career closer to the cultural richness of the country she started to miss so much. On the Viola Perfumosa album, Ceumar happily embraced the caipira music that made singer Inezita Barroso famous. It brought Ceumar back in the heart of her very own Brazil!
In 2019 she reached the milestone-age of 50, while at the same time celebrating a 20-year career as a recording artist. Her first album, the praised Dindinha, was released in 1999. So 2019 sure was a moment for Ceumar to look back but also to look forward. While living outside Brazil she got influenced by a more jazzy kind of music. In Holland, she worked close with the globetrotter (jazz) pianist Mike del Ferro. Musically, their collaboration took Ceumar beyond the Brazilian horizons. Now, back in Brazil, it sounds like she found a way to include modern influences in her performances of the very authentic Brazilian repertoire. On Espiral, for me, it all comes together in the song “Looking for a Place.” It’s the only song sung in English on the album. The composition is written by Ceumar’s son Tiê Coelho Todão, who made his first recording as singer/guitarist on the album. According to Ceumar, his participation personifies the spiral that gave the album its name. A form of continuity.
The music on the album shows a wide variety in repertoire. Each song has its own character, its own atmosphere. To reach that special sentiment, Ceumar invited some strategic guests. On “Todas Vidas do Mundo” we hear the narrative voices of singers Cátia de França (João Pessoa (Paraíba), 1947) & Déa Trancoso (Almenara (Minas Gerais), 1964) citing pieces of texts. The esraj gives the song an oriental touch. This Indian string instrument that somewhere echoes the sound of a sitar, is played by Fábio Sá. Pianist Nelson Ayres (São Paulo, 1947) is on “O Sal dos Seus Olhos.” It’s a song of breathtaking beauty with Ceumar’s crystal clear voice framed by the piano and acoustic bass (Zeca Assumpção). Also among the many highlights is “Três Irmãs.” What a fantastic horn arrangement! And what a great composition (Ceumar/Juliano Holanda)! How to describe it: a jazzy Brazilian erudite pop song? Whatever you call it, it’s just great! Of course there must be a special mention for “Espiral de Ilusão” as well, the surprising rendition of samba rapper Criolo’s composition. Ceumar is accompanied by the acoustic guitar and voice of Josyara (Juazeiro, Bahia, 1991) on this. And what to think of “Amar Além” with its outstanding horns? Or “Três Mazás” that goes back to the ages of swing?
Ceumar comes up again with an excellent album. The music captures the career influences of the artist in a way that might be surprising but at the same time just sounds so logical! Ceumar absorbed the many influences she encountered so far, and expressed them in an impressive way. Highly recommended!
ALBUM INFORMATION
Ceumar
Espiral
Circus Produções Culturais & Fonográficas CPF065 (2019)
Time: 42’16”
Tracks:
- Tô Aqui (Sérgio Pereré)
- Espiral (Ceumar – César Lacerda)
- Descalço (Ceumar – Lauro Henriques Jr)
- Espiral de Ilusão (Criolo) – w/ Josyara
- Três Irmãs (Ceumar – Juliano Holanda)
- Looking For a Place (Tiê Coelho Todão) – w/ Tiê Coelho Todão
- Todas as Vidas do Mundo (PC Silva) – w/ Cátia de França & Déa Trancoso
- Amar Além (Ceumar – Madhav Bechara)
- Três Mazás (Ceumar – Uxia)
- O Sal dos Seus Olhos (Deumar) – w/ Nelson Ayres
- Amanheceu (Ceumar – Lauro Henriques Jr)
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