Beyond / BY ALLEN MORRISON An Array of Brazilian Sounds Six albums of Brazilian and música popular brasileira illustrate more than the country’s musi- cal diversity: They demonstrate how ’s best songwriters and musicians—marinated in older forms like , choro and —are MARCOS AMORIM finding new ways to use that heritage to create fresh pop, rock and jazz. You could think of the virtuosic 11-mem- ber Banda Black Rio as the Earth Wind & Fire of Brazil, but that still wouldn’t cover its deep Brazilian influences and occasional Weather Report-like excursions into fusion. Now, in its Jon Irabagon second generation under the leadership of Invisible Horizon pianist/composer William Magalhães, son of IRABBAGAST 014/015 founding member Oberdan Magalhães, the ½ music blends Rio’s samba dancehall tradition with the grooves of ‘70s-era American and Delia Fischer As far as tabletop games go, the ancient Chinese r&b, smartly updating its sound with nods to mahjong is one of the most fendishly difcult and hip-hop. The ambitious O Som Das Américas from Minas Gerais, clearly marks him as a talent intricate. Made up of 144 tiles based on Chinese (The Sound Of The Americas) (Universal to watch, with a striking command of choro, characters and symbols, it’s a pastime that can take Music 0602577310508; 72:25 ) in- samba and forró styles. In arrangements for a lifetime to master. It feels apt then that saxophon- cludes guest appearances by , his quartet (with guitar, string bass and drums/ ist Jon Irabagon takes mahjong as his inspiration Elza Soares, and most memorably, , percussion) on Catopê (Self Release, 43:36 for the double record Invisible Horizon. Basing singing the mesmerizing “Irerê” with Magalhães. ), he mixes those traditional styles with the eight compositions of the frst half, Invisible Ordering info: universalmusic.com.br jazz in virtuoso fashion amid a bracing set of Firmly in the jazz category is the latest from nine originals. Guests, around the mechanics of a mahjong game, pianist/bandleader Antonio Adolfo, Samba Ordering info: guilhermepimenta.com his saxophone meanders through atonal classical Jazz Alley (AAM 0713; 48:13 ½). Rio , known as the original Bra- melodies, stark ambience and bursts of luscious native Adolfo had his first hit at the age of 21 with zilian beach boy, has been making hits from strings—each motif unfolding as a tile overturned. his song “Pretty World” (known in Brazil as “Sá his home base near Copacabana for about Birdsong and droning strings herald the cine- Marina”); it was covered by everyone from Ser- 50 years, ever since he wrote the bossa stan- matic opening of “Vignette For Mouthpieceless gio Mendes to Stevie Wonder. Since then, he’s dard “Summer Samba (So Nice).” He long ago Sopranino Saxophone And String Quartet” led the septet that bears his name and includes morphed, however, from a young bossa nova with the faint sound of Irabagon’s breath passing several of Brazil’s top musicians, including trum- composer to a master of Carioca jazz-funk. The through his saxophone as a reminder of his pres- peter Jessé Sadoc, saxophonist Marcelo Martins, opening track on Sempre (Far Out 211; 65:56 and the killer rhythm section of bassist Jorge ½), “Olha Quem Ta Chegando (Look Who’s ence. Tere is the sense of a meltdown in many of Helder and drummer Rafael Barata. The pro- Coming),” is Rio club music of a rarefied quality, these compositions, the arrangements verging on gram, dedicated to the memory of Rio’s legend- made even more compelling by Valle’s grooves the precipice of falling apart, before being pulled ary Bottle Alley, where Adolfo and others invent- on Rhodes. The track is irresistible, even if the back by dynamic shifs. Similarly, on the second ed “samba jazz” in the 1960s, is grade-A Adolfo. rest of the album is slightly less memorable. half of the release, Dark Horizon: Live From Te A highlight is “Hello, Herbie,” clearly inspired by Ordering info: faroutrecordings.com Mausoleum, Irabagon mingles frenetic solo sax- “Cantaloupe Island,” which pays a tropical trib- Let’s save the best for last: Singer, pianist ophone with the oneiric reverb of an Oslo crypt, ute to the great Hancock. and arranger Delia Fischer, who has worked where he recorded. Breath mingles with the echo Ordering info: aammusic.com with Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta and oth- of its own making, just as the string quartet on John Finbury, the only American in this er Brazilian greats, proves herself an innovative Invisible Guests provides a response to the piano’s bunch, is a Massachusetts-based pianist and composer/lyricist of Brazilian pop with Tempo songwriter who caused something of a stir in Mínimo (Labidad/Nomad; 41:11). rhythm. It’s as much a feld recording of the room 2016 when a song of his was nominated for The album took eight years to make—and it and experiment in Iragabon’s force as it is a cohe- a Latin Grammy. His new recording, Sorte! shows. The 12 songs, all keepers, are crafted sive record. Ultimately, though, Invisible Horizon (Greenflash; 28:46 ½), is a collaboration with irresistible melodies and poetic lyrics about is a difcult listen, one that could beneft from a with Brazilian actress-singer Thalma De Freit- time, love and the search for meaning in an era greater sense of structure. Yet, Irabagon’s playing is as, who wrote the Portuguese lyrics. This is so- of splendid digital isolation. Fischer’s limpid, un- captivating once you allow yourself into the loop- phisticated Brazilian-style chamber jazz, played derstated voice somehow embodies both inno- ing ebb and fow of textures he creates. to the hilt by a group of mostly Brazilian all-stars, cence and experience. The arrangements make —Ammar Kalia including guitarist Chico Pinheiro, bassist John creative use of flutes, clarinets, strings and elec- Patitucci, drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, pianist tronica, blending Brazilian, jazz, pop and classical Invisible Horizon: Disc one: Vignette For Mouthpieceless Sopranino Saxophone And String Quartet; Invisible Guests I-VI; Victor Gonçalves, and percussionists Airto Morei- elements to make something sui generis. Guests Vignette For Sopranino Saxophone And String Quartet. Disc two: ra and Rogerio Boccato. include MPB star Ed Motta and Valle, who wrote Dark Horizon (Entrance); Dragonwort; Forest & Field; Holy Smoke; Good Old Days (Theme From The Little Rascals); Eternal Rest; Half A Ordering info: greenflashmusic.com the only cover, a duet with Fischer of his song World Away; Dark Horizon (Exit Bow). (57:11/38:17) The debut album from 33-year-old jazz vi- “Garra” that should be a hit all over again. DB Personnel: Jon Irabagon, sopranino saxophone, mezzo soprano saxophone; Matt Mitchell (Disc one), piano; Mivos Quartet (Disc olinist Guilherme Pimenta, who came to Rio Ordering info: deliafischer.com.br one), strings. Ordering info: jonirabagon.bandcamp.com

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