Customer Reviews

Fire & Frenzy South of the Border

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My two favorite Caterina Valente albums on one disc! I owned both when I was in high school and at long last are released on CD. The arrangements by Werner Muller and Edmundo Ros are stunning, as is the sound. Caterina delivers her most thrilling recordings ever.

I own the original records, including three copies of "Fire & Frenzy". I have not been able to purchase the CD yet. "Fire and Frenzy" is certainly one of the most enchanting records ever in this reviewer's opinion. Valente's vocals are simply delightful, and the scatting between Ros and Valente on "Saudades Da Bahia" is sheer playfulness. Obviously, both performers, Ros as a Latin bandleader, and Valente the first truly international star who could sing in six languages, had a strong affinity for the melodies and rhythms of Latin America. On this record most of the standards are from Brazil. I discovered Latin music when I started ballroom dancing, and while the record is more for listening than dancing, it perfectly captures the romance, breezy air, and playfulness of Latin music, coupled with the usual strong melodies and intricate rhythms. So it was worth waiting all these years to have this material finally released on CD. "Fire & Frenzy", indeed.