Did Brazilian music save jazz? It at least gave it a second wind, with samba and bossa nova being the carrot juice that revived its blood supply. Here, warm toned clarinetist and oozing vocalist Kristen Mather de Andrade melds jazz and Brazilia like a salsa with Vitor Goncalves/acc, Cesar Garabini/viola, Eduardo Belo/b, Sergio Krakowski/pandeiro and various guests on sublimely swinging South American sensuality.
Her clarinet glows on the bouncy “Um Chorinho Diferente” and does some nice unison lines with Garabini on the festive and fun “Chorino Pra Ele” while she effortless leaps through “O Clarinete Gostoso”. Her voice brings about an aria with Goncalves as she sings in the plaza on “Bendito” and floats over the nylon strings of “Guele’ Guele’”. The hand percussion sizzles on the kinetic “Moduando” and she sings over the folksy dance beat of “Coco Tara-Ta-Ta”. This album is a street festival of fun.