— In these pandemic times, besides being around and in close contact with friends and family, one thing I have terribly missed is being able to enjoy new music from my favorite artists. With everyone socially distancing, it is really impractical and unsafe to gather musicians in a studio and make a new album. However, when you are an instrumentalist, things can be a little easier.
Ricardo Silveira has been making music for a long time. His first solo album, Bom de Tocar, was released in 1984. Since then, his career took off both in Brazil and throughout the world. This guitarist, composer, and arranger has played with some of the greatest Brazilian performers, including Elis, Regina, Milton Nascimento, and Hermeto Pascoal.
Solo is an introspective release — guitar only — that truly presents Silveira’s music in authentic solo performances. All you hear is Silveira’s guitar solos in a variety of musical styles (tango, Bossa Nova, etc.). Although most of the eleven compositions featured in Solo are by Silveira himself, five tracks feature other composers. There is a touching rendition of the Bossa Nova Marcos Valle and Paulo Sérgio Valle’s “Preciso Aprender a Ser Só”, the Antonio Carlos Jobim‘s musically poetic “Luiza,” as well as one of the few partnerships by Jobim and Chico Buarque, “Zíngaro” (aka “Retrato em Branco e Preto”). Another Bossa Nova standard, Johnny Alf‘s “Eu e a Brisa” and Rodgers & Hart’s “My Romance” complete the count for the five non-Silveira music in the album.
Solo is a very pleasing release with nearly an hour of Silveira’s inimitable guitar style and artistic mastery. It is a good companion for quiet times as well as for listeners who enjoy great performances.
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