Bring Back Samba
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
The debut album from the Brazilian Big Band Gafieira Rio Miami, the songs here capture the spirit of the low-rent halls where the black underclass of Rio de Janeiro would go to enjoy live music that included waltzes, tangos and polkas.
“Deixa Isso Pra Lá” leads the listen with Jair Oliveira’s bright vocals and lively trumpets from Peter Francis and Christian Santiago for the festive climate, and “Nó Na Madeira” follows with Isa Duarte’s soulful pipes amid Hugo Samdim’s animated percussion and Joel Martinez’s moody trombone for the warm delivery.
In the middle, “O Samba É Meu Dom” is illuminated by Julio Andrade and Marco Diaz’s fluid sax playing that suits the expressive singing and gentle rhythm, while the cultured melodies of “A Vizinha Do Lado” welcomes plenty of dynamic interaction between Davi Melo’s acoustic guitar, Pablo Gil’s tenor sax and Marcelo Pizotti’s electric piano.
Near to the end, “Dunas” is quite dreamy and benefits from Ramatis Moraes’ radiant guitar and Vanessa Moreno’s pretty singing, and “Disritimia” exits with Eric Chacón’s airy flute and Liz Rosa’s elegant vocals.
A listen that explores chorinho, pagode and maxixe, the large amount of musicians present makes each track a new adventure, and the 11 members of Gafieira Rio Miami certainly bring their international vision to the infectious formula.
Travels well with: Magos Herrera- Aire; Malika Zarra- RWA (The Essence)