Released: 2003
Tracks: Cristal; Chega de Saudade; A Lenda do Caboclo; Doce de Coco; Dansa Brasileira; Apelo; Dansa Negra; 1 X 0 (Um a Zero); Menino; Samambaia; Carinhoso; Alma Brasileira; O Amor Em Paz; Bodas de Prata & Quatro Cantos; Brasileirinho; Salvador
Best track: Cristal, Dansa Brasileira, Bodas de Prata & Quatro Cantos or Brasileirinho
Track to skip: Salvador
This is, surprisingly, one of the most difficult albums I’ve tried to review. I have attempted this…I don’t know…4 or 5 times, and I’ve never got it done. That’s a few years I’m talking about. Why is this so hard to review? I dunno. Got me! See, I really love this album. I’ve loved it since the very first listen. The songs are great, the production is great and the musicianship is REALLY great (esp. that one dude on the cello…). In the past I’ve never had difficulty in reviewing albums that I love, but this one always eluded me. I think some of that is because the music just draws me in and I can’t think about anything else. It’s like, the music won’t let me put on my “reviewer hat”; I just get sucked in and next thing I know I’ve spent over an hour of my life and I don’t know where it went. I think even when actively listening to this, it’s so hard to not get sucked in to the beauty of it all. Hm, we’ll see how I do this time…
It was difficult; I had to pull myself out a few times. I think I managed, though.
OK, well, yes, I love this album. And….ARGH! It’s so hard to write about it! I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT. This is such a wonderful album to listen to, with headphones or without. How to convey it? Well, the music on here is Brazilian (you probably could’ve guessed that by the title) and they’re all traditional Brazilian songs, with the addition of Yo-Yo Ma on the cello. Most of time he hangs around the in the higher range of the instrument so that it sounds closer to a viola or a violin than a “normal” cello. Yo-Yo Ma is primarily known for being a classical musician, but it seems he’s really been stretching out in recent years. On this album the mixture with him and the other musicians is just wonderful. It’s a perfect mix.
The album is primarily instrumental, with the only vocal tracks being Chega de Saudade and O Amor Em Paz (the two Antonio Carlos Jobim composed tracks) with Rosa Passos providing the vocals. The songs are a nice mixture of full-band things, and then some tracks are duos/trios. One of my favorite duos on the album is on Bodas de Prata & Quatro Cantos where Ma duets with Egberto Gismonti on piano. It’s a gorgeous track and a nice mellow piece before the album closes with the upbeat Brasileirinho, another great tune. It’s difficult for me to pick the “best track” on here, since those 2 in addition to Cristal and Dansa Brasileira are just *excellent* songs. I think Cristal is a fantastic opener. It definitely lets you know what you’re in for. The last track on the CD, Salvador, is listed as a “bonus track” and I’m kind of unsure why. My only guess is that this might be a special Barnes & Noble edition of the album (that’s where I got it) and thus it was tacked on at the end. Frankly, Salvador is the only track on here I don’t like. There’s a cool bit in the middle of it, but mostly it’s just rambling and kind of noisy. It’s a very strange way to end the album. I suppose you (or me) could just stop it after Brasileirinho and everything would be fine. So, besides that one minor thing, this album is really great. Certain songs make me want to dance (Dansa Brasileira) and certain songs just make my insides smile (Menino). I highly recommend this album.
Rating: 96
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