EDDIE DANIELS - Heart Of Brazil
RESONANCE RCD-1027
Eddie Daniels (cl, ts); Josh Nelson (P); Kevin Axt (b); Mauricio Zottarelli (D); plus Harlem Quartet: violin, viola, cello quartet.
The producer of this CD tells us that the music on the record was written in the 1970s and ‘80s. George Klabin, the producer, wanted to present this Brazilian music in a suitable mix of jazz and the sounds of Brazil and recruited Eddie Daniels to play clarinet, tenor sax with piano, bass, drums and a string quartet. Jazz musician Ted Nash was put in charge of arrangements on Daniels’ recommendation. Daniels plays soft focus, slightly smoky tenor sax on Agua e Vinho, a ballad that has gentle support from pianist Nelson and the strings. This tune would fit in with most jazz interpretations and is not particularly strong on Brazilian flavour. It is an attractive ballad reading though. Ciranda, which follows, is in much the same style, lyrical tenor sax and sweeping strings.
The CD is sub-titled A Tribute To Egberto Gismonti the composer of all these tracks but he is far from a typical Brazilian writer. Not so much samba and bossa nova as music with elements of folk, classical, orchestral dance and world music. That said, Daniels’ clarinet and tenor sax excursions and the thrust of the rhythm section propel the tracks on this disc along with vigour and enthusiasm. Daniels plays improvised jazz solos, ballad styled lines over various string and straight ahead rhythm backings throughout. His playing is good throughout and the music is fascinating, slightly different to expectations but the jazz content is somewhat limited. Try Maracatu for example; this is more of a European classical recital than a jazz performance. Adagio covers both jazz and European classical fields in this interpretation with Daniels offering sweet, melodic clarinet in front of the string section.
So if you like a mixture of jazz, Latin and European classical music all mixed up together, go for it. Regardless of styles though this is good music so perhaps that is the only measure to judge by.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
RESONANCE RCD-1027
Eddie Daniels (cl, ts); Josh Nelson (P); Kevin Axt (b); Mauricio Zottarelli (D); plus Harlem Quartet: violin, viola, cello quartet.
The producer of this CD tells us that the music on the record was written in the 1970s and ‘80s. George Klabin, the producer, wanted to present this Brazilian music in a suitable mix of jazz and the sounds of Brazil and recruited Eddie Daniels to play clarinet, tenor sax with piano, bass, drums and a string quartet. Jazz musician Ted Nash was put in charge of arrangements on Daniels’ recommendation. Daniels plays soft focus, slightly smoky tenor sax on Agua e Vinho, a ballad that has gentle support from pianist Nelson and the strings. This tune would fit in with most jazz interpretations and is not particularly strong on Brazilian flavour. It is an attractive ballad reading though. Ciranda, which follows, is in much the same style, lyrical tenor sax and sweeping strings.
The CD is sub-titled A Tribute To Egberto Gismonti the composer of all these tracks but he is far from a typical Brazilian writer. Not so much samba and bossa nova as music with elements of folk, classical, orchestral dance and world music. That said, Daniels’ clarinet and tenor sax excursions and the thrust of the rhythm section propel the tracks on this disc along with vigour and enthusiasm. Daniels plays improvised jazz solos, ballad styled lines over various string and straight ahead rhythm backings throughout. His playing is good throughout and the music is fascinating, slightly different to expectations but the jazz content is somewhat limited. Try Maracatu for example; this is more of a European classical recital than a jazz performance. Adagio covers both jazz and European classical fields in this interpretation with Daniels offering sweet, melodic clarinet in front of the string section.
So if you like a mixture of jazz, Latin and European classical music all mixed up together, go for it. Regardless of styles though this is good music so perhaps that is the only measure to judge by.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
