Customer Reviews

Cinema: A Romantic Vision

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

 

 

I'm a big fan of Dori Caymmi's music, but I admit to being a bit suspicious when I saw his new CD of arrangements of film music, including "Pink Panther". I went ahead and bought it anyway--it's fantastic! His arrangements are as clever, colorful and heartfelt as ever. His sidemen, the LA studio musicians he most often works with, are all great players--I was particularly impressed with Billy Childs, Abe Laboriel and Scott Mayo. The sound is impeccable. I do wish he'd found a Brazilian vocalist for "Manha de Carnaval"--the singer is good but her Portuguese accent leaves something to be desired. But don't let this stop you from picking up this great album!

I was lucky to have seen Dori on 7/13/00 at the Blue Note in New York City. He played a couple songs from Cinema and knocked our socks off (Pink Panther and a song from a James Bond Movie). Plus playing some originals from his collection and Jobim classics!!! Was a great evening!

Dori has always walked the tightrope with gentle sensuousness on one side and cloying fuzak on the other. I'm afraid he fell onto the wrong side with this one, but I have every confidence he will get back up "where he belongs". How's that for pompous?

Mark Murphy likes his music; Johnny Mathis, too; Lani Hall has just recorded one of his compositions; Sergio Mendes has recorded many of his songs from the 60s. Dori is one of the best composers of contemporary post-Bossa Nova Brazilian music. However, this album is quite different because he decided to show his great and well-known ability as an arranger. The original arrangement he wrote for Henry Mancini's "The Pink Panther" gave him a 1999 Grammy nomination. Each track here is a movie theme beautifully re-arranged by Dori. Very exquisite and good.