| It is so refreshing to see Brazilian music
emanating from the British Isles as we are so starved of this great music. With the demise
of the 'Sounds Of Brazil' radio show with Scott Adams on the internet at Yahoo Broadcast,
we seldom hear such classic music as this. 'Club Brasil' are a collection of talented
musicians based in the London, England area. Inspired by their mentor and Brazilian music
fan Mitch Mitchell they have released this collection of funky Brazilian cuts entitled
'Sangue Latino'. Fronting the band along with some other excellent female vocalists is the
founder of the 'Vida Nova' band, Lisa Brown. Producer Mitch has also enrolled the vocal
talents of Guida De Palma, Heidi Leonore and the very impressive Ive Mendes.
Some
other commonality with Vida Nova is the very talented John Crawford on keyboards, Finn
Peters on flute / sax and Tristan Banks on drums, I just love the Fender Rhodes playing on
the album which is reminiscent of Eumir Deodato on his great 'Love Island' set with George
Benson from 1977. Naturally enough being a Brazilian album one would expect the rhythm
section to cook and Tristan Banks and Oli Albergaria Savill provide this funky bossa
backdrop to this ten track extravaganza.
Bernardo
Savill provides a Oscar Castro Neves, Ricardo Silvieri guitar style on Aldeia De Ogum
which is an uptempo album opener from the Marissa Monte school of Brazilian jazz and
provides an impressive interplay between keyboard and a Hubert Laws / Dave Valentine
sounding flute.
Having
grown up in the sixties to the sound of Astrud Gilberto and the front girls with Sergio
Mendes and Brasil 66, namely Lani Hall, Gracinha Leporace and Bonnie Bowden the two killer
cuts for me on the album are 'Sangue Latino' and 'Mania De Voce' both sung by Ive Mendes
in Portugese. These remind me of the Mendes album 'What The World Needs Now' from 1969.
Two of
the albums surprises were Djavan's 'Sina' which is the Brazilian original of Manhattan
Transfer's English sung hit 'Soul Food To Go' track from their own 1987 'Brasil' album and
a cover of Roy Ayers' cult smash 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine'. The former sung in
Portugese by Guida De Palma oudes the class of a Sylvia Telles. The latter sung by Heidi
Leonore has that funky undercurrent of the original with a hard driving rhythm and vamping
keyboard chord structure. Very danceable.
One of
my all time favourite bands have been Azymuth with the magnificent Jose Roberto Betrami,
Ivan Conti and Alex Malheiros and the Lisa Brown's lyrics to their classic track 'Fly Over
The Horizon' ('Voo Sobre O Horizonte', the 'B' Side to their 1979 12" smash 'Jazz
Carnival') is a dreamy, sun drenched not-to-be-missed trip featuring Lisa on vocal duties.
The
beginning of the last cut 'Dabadeia' reminded me a lot of my very rare Sergio Mendes album
called 'Primal Roots' and has a percussive Nippy Noya feel to it provided by Oli
Albergaria Savill. It is a more traditional production to the rest of the set and
epitomises the whole flavour and culture of the 48 minutes of this latin gem.
Definitely
a project for Brazilian affectionados like me who appreciate the differing Brazilian
styles throughout the years fused with funk and it is clear to me that it has been
produced by 'like-minded' musicians who love the music deeply and are transfixed in its
heritage and grass roots. I only wish we had more musicians and more of a following for it
in the UK.
Wes Gillespie - EuroClubdeJazz.com
Classic
Brazilian Grooves!
All recast with a sweet and sparkling modern flavour. Sounding a lot like the best work
we've heard from labels like Far Out and Mr Bongo in recent years.
Review
from Dusty Groove USA
This
album sure has a lot to offer.There must be many many talented diva's in London's club
scene.
We will
sure look forward to hearing more from Club Brasil
Review
from Mr Aso
(P-Vine Records Inc, Tokyo, Japan)
Sangue Latino 1 Press Release
Club
Brasil Records present the first instalment in a series of albums dedicated to some of the
finest composers and songwriters from Brazil in the last 40 years.
This
debut album Sangue Latino brings together the cream of Europe's and South America's most
prestigious Latin Jazz musician's and singer's from bands such as Negrocan, Vida Nova and
Group X, in a magical music collaboration.
A superb
'feel-good' album with some outstanding new versions of much loved classic Brazilian
tracks. Included is a killer dance floor version of Joyce's 'Aldeia De Ogum' a chilled
Fender Rhodes outing of Rita Lees' awesome 70's hit 'Mania De Voce,' a haunting melodic
soulful cover of the title track 'Sangue latino,' and an outstanding drum and bass take on
Gilberto Gils' maracatu Atomico'.
This
album is wall to wall quality and a must have for any serious Latin Music Lover. |
