Christmas In Rio
Sunnyside, 2024
8/10
The Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo and esteemed vocalist Pamela Driggs come together for an intimate holiday record that surrounds love and gratitude.
The warm and cozy “Have Yourself A Very Little Christmas” opens with Driggs’ pretty pipes alongside Victor Goncalves’ soothing according and Itaiguara Brandao’s calm bass, and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” follows with Peter Martin’s agile piano playing that complements the fluid guitar and soft singing.
Deeper into the listen, “Silent Night” offers a dreamy moment of stirring vocals and touching guitar, while “Winter Reverie” makes great use of Joe Locke’s atmospheric vibraphone and Rafael Barata’s skilled drumming for the album’s best.
“Jingle Bells” and “Toyland” exit the listen. The former puts a very cultured spin on the classic, and the latter finishes with a haze of poetic beauty that tugs on the heartstrings.
A superb collaboration that hosts many exceptional musicians, Lubambo and Driggs flesh out rhythms of bossa nova, samba, and Brazilian waltz with much care and timelessness.
Travels well with: Neff Irizarry- Cambio (Change); Marc Ciprut- Moonshine