Guitarist Nae Najar gives tribute to the classic meeting between Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, Tom Jobim, Astrud Gilberto and Joao Gilberto during the days when samba took over the world and essentially saved jazz.
The mood is much the same as the original, with tenor saxist Jeff Rupert tapping into his inner Stan Getz and blowing smoke rings on the lovely “Desifinado” and the fun “Samba Dees Days”, with the only major difference between here is that there is the addition of Patarick Bettison on Fender Rhodes to add extra depth. Najar gives quite nights and quite chords with Chuch Rddd/dr and Herman Burney/dr on a gracefeul “Sama Trist” with the leader in delicate digital prowess for “Na Baixa do Sapeteiro”. Wispy voiced Daniel Soledade is breathy, tall, tan and lovely on the festive “E LUxo So” and “O Pato”, making the album a gorgeous tribute to one of the greatest exhibits of cultural exchange ever occurred.
Vocalist Anne Walsh gives tribute to the soft and sensuous voice of Astrud Gilberto, made famous on a plethora of samba albums (some with Stan Getz) as well as a few on her own in the bossa nova’d 50s. She’s backed by an orchestra that gives hint to Claus Ogerman’s vintage sessions with Antonion Jobim, subtle and softly swinging with horns, percussion and strings. The flutes of Gary Meek and Mike Vaccaro breeze around Walsh’s nasal lyricism on “On My Mind” and the poppish “Beach Samba” as well as the fluid and catchy “Call Me”. Walsh is comfortable in lush settings, patiently holding back on “Dindi” and a surprisingly laid back “The Girl From Ipanema”. Sounds for a warm summer night.