The venerable SFJAZZ Collective continues its delving into various songbooks; this time the team focuses on the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, mixing it with team-composed pieces on the 2 disc set of concert material. The band continues its revolving door of artists, consisting now of Miguel Zenon/as, David Sanchez/ts, Robin Eubanks/tb Etienne Charles/tp, Warren Wolf/vib-mar, Edward Simon/p, Matt Brewer/b and Obed Calvaire/dr.
The octet shares arranging chores, and they do some adventurous work on the Jobim Songbook. A post bop “Waters of March” features Sanchez’s rich tenor, with the horns puffing on a stark One Note Samba.” Simon and Wolf chime on the bouncy “The Girl From Ipanema” with some elliptical harmonics on “Garoto.” Brewer’s bass teams gloriously with Calvaire’s brushes on “How Insensitive” whle the band bounces on “A Felicidade.”
For the newer pieces, Zenon glows on his beautiful “Infinito,” with the horns asserting themselves on Eubanks’ “It Takes A Village.” Simon is sublime for “Insight” with the vibes glistening for “Sketch.” Brainy, but with brawn.