ECM/Universal Music Group releases a vibrant audiophile vinyl of an iconic percussionist.
Naná Vasconcelos – Saudades – ECM Records ECM 1147 4505341 (1980)/(2023) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 44:06 ****1/2:
(Naná Vasconcelos – berimbau, percussion, voice, gongs; Egberto Gismonti – Super 8-string guitar; with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra – conducted by Mladen Gutesha)
Brazilian percussionist and vocalist Naná Vasconcelos had an impressive career as a solo artist, releasing over a dozen albums. Additionally, he was an influential sideman on projects with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Milton Nascimento, and Jan Garbarek, to name a few. He garnered eight Grammy awards, and was named Best Percussionist by Downbeat magazine for seven consecutive years. Vasconcelos played a wide variety of exotic instruments including berimbau, gourd, vibraphone, tabla and gongs. His translation of global musical themes defined his legacy.
ECM Records/Universal Music Group has released a 180-gram re-mastered vinyl of the 1980 album Saudades. It is the first release of the ECM Luminescence audiophile vinyl reissue series. This is a unique musical statement by this versatile musician. Side 1 opens with a 19-minute performance on a berimbau. The single-stringed percussion instrument in the hands of Vasconcelos is hypnotic and rhythmic. At approximately the 3:48 mark, the orchestra is introduced as a melodic counterpoint to the berimbau accents. The intermingling of these two musical structures is compelling. The strings are lyrical and fit into this atmospheric mosaic. Interludes of the berimbau and strings are entwined in moody textures with classical motifs. At times, it feels like an experimental suite with tempo and instrumental changes. There is a bird sound, but the technical expertise with the berimbau is front and center, with a unique balance of exoticism and warm melodies. The second track (“Vozes/Saudades”) is concise and showcases overdubbed wordless vocals with studio echo, complemented by the orchestra’s mournful resonance.
Side Two opens with emphatic conga percussion (including gong and tabla) on “Ondas (Na Óhlos de Petronilo)”. There is a sudden transition with swirling tracked vocals surrounding the pulsating vibe. The vocalese becomes more prominent, at times synchronized with the percussion. It is a dramatic, mysterious collage of sound that grabs the listener’s attention. Arranger Egberto Gismonti is featured prominently on his own composition, “Cego Aderaldo” (previously recorded with Jan Garbarek and Charlie Haden). Gismonti’s 8 string guitar reverberates with warm tonality and precision. The guitarist enhances and dials back pace, as his counterpart provides a delicate percussion balance. As the number progresses, Gismonti unfurls more intensity and occasional punctuation. Hushed moments create an ethereal reverie. The finale (“Dado”) is performed solo by Vasconcelos on a two-string berimbau that he only became familiar with prior to the session. It encapsulates the daring integrity and vision of this artist.
This is an auspicious beginning to the re-mastered Luminescence vinyl series. The sound mix is pristine with limited studio effects. The quiet intimacy of the studio is captured effectively (even moments of silence), keeping the focus on the instruments.
—Robbie Gerson
Naná Vasconcelos – Saudades
TrackList:
Side I:
O Berimbau
Vozes (Saudadaes)
Side II:
Ondas (Na Ôhlos de Patronilla
Cego Aderald
Dado
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