Customer Reviews

Meu Samba Torto

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

 

 

Singer Clara Moreno is the daughter of two Brazilian jazz-pop legends, the singer-guitarist Joyce and songwriter Nelson Angelo. As with many second-generation Brazilian performers, she has a deep understanding of and connection to the history of many styles of Brazilian music, and here she covers samba-songs from the 1930s, classic bossa nova and more modern compositions from her mother, as well as several songs by singer-guitarist Celso Fonseca, who plays on most of the album. The musicians here are all top-flight players from the upper ranks of today's MPB scene, and the album, though a bit on the conservative side, is sweet-sounding and very easy on the ears. Definitely worth checking out! (DJ Joe Sixpack)

The above reviewer, Joe Sixpack, is more knowledegable about the genre than I am. So his is a good endorsement. What I can say is that I do have about 60 bossa nova albums spanning from late 50's to the present, and this is one of my favorite. One reason I bought it was because I'm familiar with the superb guitar of Celso Fonseca from his earlier works, and he sure shines here--without being showy. I prefer the word "traditional" to Joe Sixpack's "conservative." I'm sure Joe is right from a certain perspective but, perhaps as a function of my age (50's), I'm quite at home with a samba/bossa nova sound that's in keeping with the likes of Rosa Passos, Nara Leao, and Joao Gilberto.
This is not an imitative album. It's very sincere, well performed, and it is what it wants to be. The jazz influence is tasteful and non-self indulgent. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because I found the last tune a bit jarring and out of context--but that's just a matter of taste. The other 13 tunes provide me with a bossa nova album that I already cherish.

I'm an incurable bossa nut always in search of the perfect vocal for this incredible music. I finally found one of them right here with Clara. There must be at least 50 CD's in my collection for this genre. In my opinion you won't a better example that the title track. Just heaven. I have to have more... No I don't speak Portuguese but doesn't matter ... Really. S'cuse me. I have to get back to buying some more of it. Can't get enough. Totally hooked.

As any fan of this music over the past several years, Clara Moreno's album is exactly what we should all be waiting for - and what the genre's artists should be aspiring towards. It reminds us clearly of the subtle brilliance seen in the other classics such as Joao Gilberto's self-titled first album also bursting with subtle artistry.

The guitar is clean and crisp and beautifully original, the solos are spot on, the duets are a real harmonic treat. The tracks 'Meu Samba Torto' and 'Rosa de Ouro' easily evoke euphoric feelings as they nearly reach perfection. Other tracks such as 'Litoranca', 'Bahia Com H', 'Ela Vai Por Mar', and 'Moca Flor' evoke fondest of our own memories - like a spending a day doing nothing on a beautiful sun-filled beach or sitting around a camp fire with a six-string..

This has become a fantastic addition to my mixes comprised of Brazilian guitar, and other well matching artists such as Celso Fonseca. This is one of the greatest albums available and should be bought and displayed with pride.

Meu Samba Torto is simple yet intricate, plain and yet elegant - making the sweetest balance of old and new, male and female, and contemporary and instant classic.