DIEGO FIGUEIREDO - Come Closer
Stunt Records STUCD 19032
Diego Figueriredo (guitars); featuring Cyrille Aimée, Janis Siegel & Chiara Izzi (vocals)
Recorded January, February & March 2017
This is an enchanting album Brazilian guitarist, Diego Figueiredo in which he showcases his talents in the most modest of ways, and for the the majority of the album he almost takes a secondary role, his first being to ensure that the right suppot is given for the three guest vocalists. This he does with much grace and style, hiding his virtuoisty under a bushel as it were, yet providing an accompaniment for each of the vocalist, who are each very different in style, range and temperament.
The disc is very cleverly programmed in such a way as to feature each of the singers in a single block, giving each their own 'mini set', rather than placing them more randomly across the album. First up are four numbers from Cyrille Aimée, who brings a child like innocence to the music, and on 'You Won't be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) which is reminiscent of how Billie Holiday may handle this type of material.
Before introducing his next guest, Figueiredo gets 'Sexta Fiera', a self penned composition, all to himself, and displaying a dexterity, agility and lyricism on the guitar that is most engaging. No hint of a show boating just wonderful music expressed with a degree of humility and the joy of playing. This is also a device that is repeated before introducing his third and final guest in a solo rendition of Jimmy Van Heusen's 'Like Someone In Love', that almost steals the show. An overdubbed performance that allows the guitarist to elaborate on his lines, yet remains understated and controlled, restraint is the key here, and with a melodic and rhythmic sense that makes the tune come to life anew.
Aimée's four numbers are all relatively brief and done in just under ten minutes. Janis Siegal, of Manhatten Transfer fame, is up next and allocated almost double the time to weave her particular brand of magic. This she does in fine style on Jobim's 'Dreamer' and 'One Note Samba' with a vocal that is impressive not just for its range but the emotional power that is inherent when delivering the lyric. The fact that she also scats so convincingly as evidenced on a wonderfully exuberant solo on 'Gone With The Wind' is an added bonus, where she is able to take liberties with the melody to stamp her inimitable style all over it.
Last up is the Italian born - New York resident, Chiara Izzi who only gets two tracks but uses these to make a huge impression. Izzi is perhaps the least known of the three but her reading of 'Moon River' immediately marks her out as something special, and this observation is hammered home with an incredible 'Nardis' complete with Portuguese text. What Miles would make of this is anyone's guess, but for this reviewer she absolutely nails it in a performance that that is breathtaking in its beauty.
This is a recording that brings together three very different vocal stylists, yet the album works so well as a listening experience bound by the superb playing of Diego Figuerido that I have no hesitation in recommending this wholeheartedly.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Stunt Records STUCD 19032
Diego Figueriredo (guitars); featuring Cyrille Aimée, Janis Siegel & Chiara Izzi (vocals)
Recorded January, February & March 2017
This is an enchanting album Brazilian guitarist, Diego Figueiredo in which he showcases his talents in the most modest of ways, and for the the majority of the album he almost takes a secondary role, his first being to ensure that the right suppot is given for the three guest vocalists. This he does with much grace and style, hiding his virtuoisty under a bushel as it were, yet providing an accompaniment for each of the vocalist, who are each very different in style, range and temperament.
The disc is very cleverly programmed in such a way as to feature each of the singers in a single block, giving each their own 'mini set', rather than placing them more randomly across the album. First up are four numbers from Cyrille Aimée, who brings a child like innocence to the music, and on 'You Won't be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) which is reminiscent of how Billie Holiday may handle this type of material.
Before introducing his next guest, Figueiredo gets 'Sexta Fiera', a self penned composition, all to himself, and displaying a dexterity, agility and lyricism on the guitar that is most engaging. No hint of a show boating just wonderful music expressed with a degree of humility and the joy of playing. This is also a device that is repeated before introducing his third and final guest in a solo rendition of Jimmy Van Heusen's 'Like Someone In Love', that almost steals the show. An overdubbed performance that allows the guitarist to elaborate on his lines, yet remains understated and controlled, restraint is the key here, and with a melodic and rhythmic sense that makes the tune come to life anew.
Aimée's four numbers are all relatively brief and done in just under ten minutes. Janis Siegal, of Manhatten Transfer fame, is up next and allocated almost double the time to weave her particular brand of magic. This she does in fine style on Jobim's 'Dreamer' and 'One Note Samba' with a vocal that is impressive not just for its range but the emotional power that is inherent when delivering the lyric. The fact that she also scats so convincingly as evidenced on a wonderfully exuberant solo on 'Gone With The Wind' is an added bonus, where she is able to take liberties with the melody to stamp her inimitable style all over it.
Last up is the Italian born - New York resident, Chiara Izzi who only gets two tracks but uses these to make a huge impression. Izzi is perhaps the least known of the three but her reading of 'Moon River' immediately marks her out as something special, and this observation is hammered home with an incredible 'Nardis' complete with Portuguese text. What Miles would make of this is anyone's guess, but for this reviewer she absolutely nails it in a performance that that is breathtaking in its beauty.
This is a recording that brings together three very different vocal stylists, yet the album works so well as a listening experience bound by the superb playing of Diego Figuerido that I have no hesitation in recommending this wholeheartedly.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
