Ceumar, Lui Coimbra & Paulo Freire: Viola Perfumosa

A Heartwarming Tribute

— With the album Viola Perfumosa, musicians Ceumar, Lui Coimbra and Paulo Freire pay tribute to an outside Brazil lesser known icon in Brazilian music: Ignez Magdalena Aranha de Lima “Inezita” Barroso (1925 – 2015). Although from the cosmopolitan city of São Paulo, Inezita Barroso was a preserver of the caipira music or music from rural Brazil, to put it simply. As TV host, she featured young talents of caipira music and also as a teacher she highlighted the music style. But most of all, as a singer she embraced the various styles of the music from the sertão, the hinterland. Her discography (also as a participant) counts something like 80 albums. To be complete: she was also a celebrated actress.

Leave it to gifted and dedicated musicians like Ceumar, Lui Coimbra and Paulo Freire to come up with an original and pure homage. Ceumar Coelho (Itanhandu, Minas Gerais) is no stranger here on MúsicaBrasileira.org. Between 2009 and 2016 she lived in Amsterdam, Holland, where she showed a more jazzy approach, without losing contact with the Brazilian roots. Since the singer/guitarist/composer is back in Brazil, she focuses more on the traditional forms of Brazilian music. Lui Coimbra (Rio de Janeiro) is a settled name on the cello and the rabeca (a more primitive version of the violin). He’s also on acoustic guitar and, as we know from his solo album Ouro e Sol, also a gifted singer. As cellist he has performed with almost everyone in the Brazilian music scene! Paulo Freire (São Paulo) is an authority on the viola caipira (acoustic 10-string guitar). One of the rarities on the viola caipira is Paulo performing All Blues (Miles Davis)! He’s also vocalist on this album.

The trio clearly had fun in looking and finding repertoire for this album. There’s a tasteful variety of styles; just like Inezita Barroso always showed. Her first big hit (“Moda da Pinga,” 1953) is performed with a youthful enthusiasm. The first half of the song is sung in unison by the three musicians. It leads to an extra folkloric feeling. The following “Horóscopo” is sung in a fun way by Paulo Freire, with a special feature for each month of the year… He’s also the narrator on the track “Pedro Paulo.” The short story was also told on his Paulo Freire Trio album Vai Ouvindo (2004). The incredibly crystal clear voice of Ceumar is featured on (among others) “Tamba-Tajá” (in duet with the vocals of Lui Coimbra). It’s great to hear her exceptional voice again throughout this album. She’s really amazing. As is Lui Coimbra. He’s no doubt among the greatest cellists, combined with an approach that is classical, traditional, but he also manages to play contemporary sounds on the instrument. And he’s a noticeable talent on the rabeca as well. Apart from his vocals, Paulo Freire shows to be the master of the viola caipira. Just listen to “Bolinho de Fubá” as a clear example. There are also two guest musicians: percussionist Marcos Suzano and bassist Pedro Aune.

What else is there to conclude than to agree with the last two words of Paulo Freir on the CD: “Vai ouvindo” or “go and listen.” You’ll hear a very special album.

ALBUM INFORMATION
Ceumar, Lui Coimbra & Paulo Freire
Viola Perfumosa
Circus Produções CPF051 (2018)
Time: 39’57”

Tracks:

1. Luar Do Sertão (Catulo da Paixão Cearense – João Pernambuco)
2. Tambá-Tajá (Waldemar Henrique)
3. Índia (Manuel Ortiz Guerrero – José Asunción Flores)
4. Pedro Paulo (Paulo Freire – Augusto Borges – João Bá)
5. Amo-Te Muito (João Chaves)
6. Moda Da Pinga (Ochelsis Laureano)
7. Horóscopo (Alvarenga – Ranchinho – Capitão Furtado)
8. Oi Calango Ê (Hervê Cordovil)
9. Coco Do Mané (Luiz Vieira)
10. Bolinho De Fubá (Edvina de Andrade)
11. Chitãozinho e Xororó (Athos Campos Serrinha) / Menina Ignês (Citação Renata Grecco)