Recorded in Rio, these dozen tracks testify to the flexibility of recording technology today. Mandolin virtuoso De Holanda recorded himself whenever he felt like it, using a good mike and his laptop – in hotel rooms on the road as well as in his home. He wanted to capture the intimacy of his mandolin and some of his “instantaneous” compositions.
In addition to his own compositions, some of the top names in Brazilian music are featured; Tom and Paulo Jobim, Chico Buarque, Dori Caymmi. I was reminded of the ukulele virtuosity of Jake Shimabukuro, but Holanda is working with six more strings and in a more limited genre area – though no less interesting. Again, it was difficult to decide what section to send this review to – it has elements of world music, jazz, classical and pop. Simple but superb.
TrackList: Soho’s samba, Beatriz, Gratitude, Luiza, Star ground, Little Lady, A cesar o que e do cesar, The Roses Don’t Speak, Passarim, Ocean’s Sweet, Love long love, The spell of the vila.
– John Henry
