Customer Reviews

Atelier (Last Look)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last Look was my first look at Latin smooth jazz guitarist Torcuato Mariano. Mariano is a great guitarist, songwriter and composer that is well documented on this album. His melodies are catchy, upbeat, and you'll be humming them even after the cd stops playing.

His music is colored with Brazilian and Bossa Nova rhythms. "A Very Special Place" mixes his guitar talent with that of pianist Glauton Campello who performs a brilliant solo. Occasionally, Mariano picks up an electric guitar to add a new flavor to his music, like in his soulful "Secrets" and his funky "Rio Stomp". "In the Rhythm of My Heart" brings a sax into the fold of his art. There's not a track on this album that has failed to capture my attention.

If you like the sounds of smooth jazz guitar with a Latin flavor, this is a great place to start. Mariano has done an excellent job with this album, and is one of my favorite smooth jazz albums that I own. I highly recommend him and Last Look.

'Last Look' is possibly the best of the albums from Brazilian guitarist Torcuato Mariano, who combines pop, jazz, rock and funk influences and get them into a new age mood in which the most important things are the compositional skill and his playing on the guitar that mixes sensibility with technic accuracy and intricate. 'Africa' shows a collage full of ideas and influences and brings a way of singing along with the guitar that reminds other Brazilians' works as well as own Pat Metheny influence. The same happens on 'The Things I Couldn't Say With Words', the very best cut on the album, wich brings us an ever increasing grade of emotional intensity, lead with his clean acoustic guitar sound and his voice.

Other memorable tracks are 'Secrets', that shows a more evident rock-guitar way, 'Rio Stomp', a beating funky-bassed and the beautiful ending track, 'Dindi', that expresses melancholy with serene jazzy acoustic guitar chiming.

A good choice for all who don't had the pleasure of knowing this successful Brazilian guitarist's work.

This cd is excellent. At first i just wanted it for one song, but when i finally listened to the whole cd it was mangificant. The whole cd no matter what mood you are in,makes you kick back and relax to enjoyable sounds. I would suggest that this title be added to every jazz listener's collection.

What the bossa nova was to Brazilian jazz guitarin the 60's, Mariano's post-bossa nova jazz guitar is to the 90's. An incredible album by an incredible guitarist. Mariano's compositions and arrangements form the logical bridge between these two disparate periods of music. He is progressive, yet he honors his traditional Brazilian roots. I hope another one of his albums is released in this country.

Torcuato Mariano is a great guitarist in a country of great guitarists (Brazil). This second work from him is a trip over all the reigns of guitar styles you can imagine, but the thing that really matters is the exquisite quality of the guitar work, arrangements and composition of each track. This album is a very must hear for everybody who likes guitar, no matter which style (except if it's too hard thrash metal about).

The jump of quality from the first album, 'Paradise Station', which I rather dislike, is enormous, and the thing opens with this drumming beats that start 'Africa'. The thing developes until you feel submerged in a very nice and fresh atmosphere full of different influences flying in the air. The song is simply fantastic and Mariano sings along with his Spanish guitar in a very Metheny-esque style. Not to forget the musical roots of the American come in grand part from Brazilian guitar jazz.

The second song is a very uplifting one and the enthusiastic Spanish guitar that flies above the driving rythm simply drives me crazy. Torcuato sings along again with the guitar during the chorus in what is one of the most joyful and enthusiastic melodies you've ever heard. 'Last Look' is a beautiful piece of romantic melancholic acoustic guitar. The next two pieces are very uplifting and groovy with a funk style.

But it is the song six, 'Secrets', the one that will take you by complete surprise. Torcuato Mariano plays a Satriani-Steve Vai heavy metal style with a quality any of these chaps' followers would love. The elegance and style of the first notes and the entry of the guitar are perfect. The crescendo of the song puts you in a very melodic heavy metal chorus, and many different distorted guitars replace one another until the last climax. A great work of rock.

The next two songs are much moodier, the beautiful 'Ocean Way' drives you to almost feel the sea breeze with a very nice acoustic guitar and 'Walking on Clouds' is a very dreamy, soundscaping song with a beautiful cyclyc acoustic guitar melody and a very expressive fretless bass.

The last song, 'Dindi' is a classic jazz Brazilian composition well adapted and a very melancholic but beautiful end for the record.

Every person that loves guitar music must listen to this work.

THIS ARTIST MAKES MUSIC THAT HELPS TO SOOTH AND RELAX YOU FROM THE EVERYDAY [STUFF] THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD. THIS ALBUM IS GREAT FOR MANY REASONS. ONE OF WHICH IS HIS SIMPLICITY. WHILE MAKING AN ALBUM THAT CAN SOUND VERY TECHNICAL, WITH ALL HIS STRUMMING AND THE WAY HE CAN CHANGE TEMPO, MARIANO IS PLAYING IT RATHER EASILY.ALL IN ALL THIS ALBUM IS GREAT, AND I THINK THAT MARIANO IS ONE OF THE GREASTEST JAZZ FUSION ASTRIST'S IN THE WORLD.

This is my second CD since I lost my first one.It should tell you that I truly love Torcuato Mariano's "Last Look" CD...I play it religiously on a daily basis.You may ask "Why?"..Well,the music always set the day for me...Smooth and lovely to hear and it just takes me away...The sounds are serene and pleasant that I never get tire hearing the tunes,especially my favorite track#3 "Last Look ".I would strongly recommend this album to anyone who treasures Brazilian jazz.

Brazilian guitarist Torcuato Mariano's CD Last Look has some fine tracks on it. The opening song entitled Africa reminds me of Pat Metheny, yet he retains his own style. He does his own scatting-style vocals on this one too. It is definitely one of the best songs on the CD. Everything I Couldn't Say With Words is another song with scatting this time it features Claudio Nucci. This is another very good song. This kind of reminds me of the duo Special EFX. The title cut is a beautiful song featuring some fine acoustic guitar work. This makes for 3 good songs in a row!!! On the song In The Rhythm Of My Heart...Mariano turns it up several notches and performs an acid-jazz style song. Very catchy!!! A Very Special Place is another fine song and is one of my favorites on this CD!! Good keyboard playing on this too! Secrets highlights the electric guitar style of Torcuato. It's a fairly intense song compared to the rest of the CD. Ocean Way gets this CD back on track to the smooth jazz style heard earlier. It has some programming on it that sounds flutes. More than likely it's been done using keyboards. Very nice! Walking On Clouds is slower, melodic tune with a nice sound to it. Rio Stomp has a great bass line in the beginning of it. It's definitely and up tempo song!!! The final cut Dindi is a song written in the memory of Tom Jobim. It's a mellow, guitar-driven song. Not bad. Please don't overlook Last Look! Add it to your collection today!

A great example of a cutting-edge guitarist at work...a fine blend smooth, cool, funky jazz...I have to say that "Last Look" is one of the most played CDs in my collection.....

This CD always bubbles back to the top of my ever growing collection of CD's. Every cut is a winner. I patiently wait for the next release!