Here are a couple of artists that take you on musical journeys all over South America, from the urban café’s of Brazil to the villages of Uruguay.
Vocalist Sabrina Lastman brings together a working trio of Emilio Solia/p, Pablo Aslan/b and David Silliman/dr along with a collection of guests on this collection of (mostly) originals that mix jazz and traditional music from her homeland of Montevideo, Uruguay. Her harmon-muted trumpet of a voice works amazingly well on her wordless vocals such as “Axis” as well as the exciting percussion match with Sillman on “Brisa Fresca.” Other tunes such as “Tengo Un Candombe Para Gardel” and “Zea Mais” evoke images of villages in the foothills, while the strings on “Color De Arena” is hauntingly romantic. She closes with an a cappella reading of “Cilada Verbal,” a poem by de Sant’ Anna which displays her alluring charm and mystique. Similar, but unlike anything you’re used to.
Keeping deep with the Brazilian tradition in every good sense of the word, guitarist/vocalist Oscar Castro-Neves delivers a charming vista of a show at the Japanese nightclub with Marcelo Mariano/b, Paulo Calasans/p, Maraco Bosco/perc and guests Airto Moreira/pec and Leila Pinheiro/voc. The leader’s understated charms are in full bloom on intimate takes of Jobim tunes “Ela E Carioca” and “Waters of March,” hearkening to the era of classic samba. Pinheiro’s pencil thin voice works its wonders on “Ponteio” and “Domingo Azul Do Mar” before Moreira takes you all the way back into the deep rain forest on a percussive journey on “Caninana” and a sonic jungle river trip on “Mistruada/Tombo.” The leader’s charming voice and soft hands approach to his guitar on “My sweet Sweetie pie” and ”Deixa” makes you appreciate the affect this music has had on jazz, American music, and on life in general.
Zoho Records