Rich ensemble work from woodwinds, brass, harp, strings and percussion interpret compositions by Mauricio Pessoa. The orchestra is conduced by Daniel Ott, and lets the flutes and strings create wondrous agony on “Saudade” while the obo pleads on “Lullaby.” Some pizzicato’d strings and harp dance for joy on “Quem e do Mar” and the cello yearns during “Ana Luiza” before the album closes on a poppish vein with the drummer pepping up a schmaltzy “Without You.” Luminous lights.
Chuck Bergeron directs the music by the South Florida Orchestra, which boasts of seven woodwinds, six trumpets, ditto trombones and six members of a rhythm section along with guest Richard Todd on the French Horn. Material by composer Gary Lindsay includes the fluffy “Toward Hope” which mixes jazz and chamber music and the fragrant title track which features vocalist Julia Dollison blending with the reeds. Ed Calle’s tenor sax agonizes on “’Round Midnight” and the rhythm team sizzles on the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn “UMMG” with some nice Nelson Riddle moods for bubbly voices on “Spring is Here/Up Jumped Spring.” A strong pen for a strong band.