Chico Pinheiro & Anthony Wilson – Nova – Goat Hill Recordings

by | Nov 29, 2008 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Chico Pinheiro & Anthony Wilson – Nova – Goat Hill Recordings, 69:23 ****1/2:

(Chico Pinheiro – acoustic and electric guitar; Anthony Wilson – electric and acoustic guitar; Fabio Torres – piano and Fender Rhodes; Marcelo Mariano – electric bass; Paulo Paulelli – acoustic bass; Edu Ribeiro – drums; Armando Marçal – percussion; and others)

This is one of those dates that at first listen sounds perhaps a little too sunny and sweet.  Delve a little deeper and a richly authentic Brazilian jazz sensibility emerges.  Both guitarists thoroughly know their way around their instruments, and they have chosen (mostly Brazilian) sidemen of great taste versatility.  Wilson mines a more traditional jazz vein, while Pinheiro pulls off dashing fleet-fingered runs on his acoustic guitar.  The arrangements strike a perfect balance between lush accessibility and rigor making this music always listenable but never slipping into sentimentality.

Standout selections include the samba-ish “Café com pão,” with its gently swaying tropical vibe; “Tempestade,” a quietly burning number featuring brilliant soloing by both guitarists and smoky flugelhorn courtesy of Daniel D’Acântara; Anthony Wilson’s haunting ballad “Laranjeiras”; Pinheiro’s nod to McCoy Tyner, “Cuba,” with some fiery piano from Torres, great horn charts, and a tasty acoustic bass solo by Paulo Paulelli; the title cut, “Nova,” the lushest number on the disc with its sensuous horns and deeply romantic vibe; and “Requebre que eu dou doce” written by and featuring the great voice of Dori Caymmi.

Perhaps the most interesting numbers are “Planície” and “Alla Chitarra” featuring Pinheiro and Wilson joined by Swami Jr. on 7-string acoustic guitar, an instrument made famous by Egberto Gismonti.  The trio’s timing, interplay, and shear musicality astounds.  Very high order Latin-flavored world-jazz.

TrackList:
Café com pão
Tempestade
Laranjeiras
Cuba
Planície
When You Dream
Easter Monday
Nova
Two Fives
Requebre que eu dou doce
Interlude
Alla Chitarra

– Jan P. Dennis
 

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