— While chatting with MB’s most prolific contributor and senior reviewer, Kees Schoof, we realized that the current state of affairs of Brazilian music is not very rewarding to our ears. We keep looking for those new albums that really grab our attention based on innovation and artistry. It seems that most artists in Brazil are doing the same as what they have done in the past with very few exceptions.
In addition to in-depth reviews as we’ve done in the past, I also want to acknowledge some recent releases that I am listening to and share those with you. I must also evolve in this present age of streaming music. Sometimes the only copy I can get a hold of is what is streaming (by the way, it is my preferred method of listening to music these days). So, finding liner notes becomes harder and harder every day. Here are two featured albums I’ve been listening to lately.
Claudia Villela: Encantada Live
Edu Aguiar: Entropia
The first album I bring to your attention comes from the dazzling vocalist Claudia Villela (Rio de Janeiro, 1961). She’s been featured previously on our site (Adventure Music: 10 Years, Harvey Wainapel: Amigos Brasileiros, Claudia Villela with Kenny Werner: Dreamtales, and Claudia Villela & Ricardo Peixoto: Inverse Universe), and with this latest album — her sixth solo work and second live album — she presents a set of live recordings in a mixture of ensembles (septet, quartet, and duos). Included in Encantada Live you will hear some classic Brazilian composers (Edu Lobo, Capinam, Villa Lobos) as well as a few of her original compositions, including some remarkable improvisations. To sum up the album, Villela herself said that she wanted “to put everything out… not holding it back.” Her vocal range skills and creative versatility are stunning. She leaves you breathless with her vocal performances. Two of the longest tracks in this release are over ten minutes in length, and what you hear is nothing short of brilliant! I am talking about her own “Taina” and “Minas” (the latter co-written with Kenny Werner). “Minas” is a stunningly improvised tribute to the music of Minas Gerais’ Clube da Esquina group (Milton Nascimento and others). The album is captivating and solid!
The other featured album this week is a newcomer for our site: Edu Aguiar (guitars), Mingo Araújo (percussion), and Camila Matoso (voice). Entropia is fourteen original compositions with various influences ranging from folk, blues, bossa nova, and reggae. The melting pot that is Brazilian music is well represented in these 14 tracks. Camila Matoso’s crystal voice sings in all but two of those tracks. Edu Aguiar wrote all music with lyrics by a number of well known lyricists in Brazil, such as Alexandre Lemos, Suely Mesquita, and Carlos Renó. Mingo Araújo (an original member of the Cama de Gato group) is no stranger to world music. He was in Paul Simon’s The Rhythms of the Saints and has also appeared in a number of Brazilian albums by Egberto Gismonti, Gonzaguinha, Geraldo Azevedo, Caetano Veloso, and Gal Costa, just to name a few. Several special appearances add to the beautiful melodies and performances in Entropia. André Siqueira, Itamar Assiere, Gabriela Morgare, Eugenio Dale, Fred Martins, Geraldo Azevedo, and Zélia Duncan are a few of those guests. The only instrumental number is the title track, which closes the album. The vocal tracks are all very strong. Camila Matoso delivers the lyrics with strength in her soothing voice. She also soars in duets with Eugenio Dale and Geraldo Azevedo. The album has a second title, Projeto 1. With the quality music heard in this release, I can only hope that more “projetos” will be coming out soon.
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