Customer Reviews

Inverse/universe

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

 

 

Rio-born, San Francisco-based vocalist Claudia Villela scats and croons her way through a fine set of glossy, '70s-fusion tinged tunes, very reminiscent of Flora Purim's work with Airto Moreira and their modern jazz clique. Multi-instrumentalist Ricard Peixoto guides an able, retro-oriented band. Jazz elder Toots Thielemans plays his harmonica on a couple of tunes, lending an air of utter authenticity to the proceedings. This style isn't for everyone (I'm personally not fond of it), although the musicianship is of a high calibre; Villela is most striking on more focused, conventional melodies, although her uptempo scatting produces several dazzling passages, with lightning-fast phrasing that puts her at the top of the game. Several tunes are a bit meandering and tinny, but others have real lyrical depth. Fans of old-school fusion will be dazzled to hear the music alive and well in the new century; other listeners may want to tread more lightly.

I heard Claudia live and was amazed and haunted by her voice,i play this CD at least three times a week now for the last 4 months...her voice is so alive with spirit,it fills me with emotion to hear her...I'm so happy her music came into my life,Ricardo is wonderful as he weaves the guitar thru her journey...i listen to modern jazz,pop,world,and 40's musicals,and this is in my top ten favorite cd's...my favorite cut is Caravana,...my message is to "go with these artists,you'll find locations within yourself that you didn't know were there"

This sensationally composed, performed and engineered recording pulls you into a sonic landscape of often wordless vocals and sensuous guitar. Caravana is my favorite track. Villela's unique style of straight-toned improvisation and quiet intensity is beautiful, especially when she wails (rarely) against a swell of Middle Eastern instruments. A brave Brazilian new wave.

The composition, the musicianship, the overall mood. All brilliant. There are portions which are exuberant. Other parts will make you cry. It's a work of genius.