Customer Reviews

Mares Profundos

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

 

 

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!

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!

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.

her voice is so beautiful warm, she sings so musically, the arrangements are amazing. please come over to the netherlands and share it all with us. you are great.

The tunes here were composed by noted guitarist/composer Baden Powell and lyricist Vinicius de Morales and are in the form of a song cycle.

 Virginia Rodrigues is a big girl with a big voice who can handle the gentlest ballad or a semi-operatic piece with equal ability.

If you liked Nos and Sol Negro, you may not like this one as much - I didn't. It feels very 1960s tired and hasn't the same energy and life of Rodrigues' first two albums. I listen to those all the time; I won't listen to this one much.