Mares Profundos [Import]

Virginia Rodrigues (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B0000ARNFL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,728 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #54 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Brazilian > Afro Brazilian

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Here on Mares Profundos, Brazilian contralto Virginia Rodrigues creates her own superb versions of sambas written in the 1960s by the illustrious team of lyricist Vinícius de Moraes and composer Baden Powell. This includes all eight of their famed Afro-sambas, which emphasized samba's African roots by using rhythmic and lyrical content appropriated from the chanting invocations of Afro-Brazilian religious polytheism. As a great singer and a black woman from Bahia (a coastal area of Brazil most impacted by arrival of African slaves), Rodrigues brings an innate sense of musical understanding to the material (and its social implications). The timeless arrangements of Luiz Brasil add immensely to the album as well, beautifully complementing her world-class voice with spare but tasteful accompaniment that alternately includes samba's rhythms and acoustic guitar underpinnings, as well as a rich vocal choir (particularly on the stunning "Canto De Ossanha"), a festive horn section, and a sublime mid-size string section. This deserves an honored spot in any Brazilian music fan's collection. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

RODRIGUES VIRGINIA MARES PROFUNDOS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Afro-Sambas reimagined, October 21, 2003

By 

Eric Crawford (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mares Profundos (Audio CD)

Suddenly there's a flurry of recordings of the Afro-Sambas by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes, some of the most important compositions in samba. The only recording you really need is the original from 1966 with the authors themselves. But a few others are perfect in their way, such as Monica Salmaso/Paulo Bellinati. But this version is superb, too. Virginia's voice evokes a sacred, silvery presence of the goddess of the sea (on Canto de Iemanja) and some of the joy of the 1966 recording (on Labareda, for example).

The arrangements of Luiz Brasil are real standouts. Lapinha shimmers with samba-de-roda handclaps AND big-band winds, felicidade AND sophistication. In other words, this CD benefits from some of the genius that made Caetano's Livro CD a career highlight.

Get the 1966 version first. Get this a week later!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must have, December 21, 2006

By 

C. F. Harrison (SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mares Profundos (Audio CD)

I was shocked to see that of Virgínia's 3 CDs, this one received the worst customer ratings. Virgínia's take on the Afro-sambas is truly inspired. Apart from her amazing voice, she brings to this song cycle an "insider's" look at sambas written about the gods she serves as a Candomblé practitioner. The musical arrangements are always appropriate, ranging from plaintive to joyful depending on the song. I can only recommend this CD--everyone I've introduced to it fell in love with it instantly. Enjoy!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Major Disappointment!, July 7, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mares Profundos (Audio CD)

Although there is nothing like the pure voice of Virginia Rodrigues, this album was a MAJOR disappointment. Her first album was wonderful, her second OK, and this one, unfortunately, is in most ways a failure. The arrangements are unimaginative and they have sort of a Lawrence Welk quality, and most of the tracks lack any Afro-Brazilian feel at all. I hope that on her next album she goes back to the popular Brazilian rhythms and melodies that made her first album such an amazing musical achievement.
If you want true Afro-Sambas, try to find the original 1966 album, with Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes, which is available as part of the 13 CD Baden Powell box.