Customer Reviews

Rio Days Rio Nights

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rio Days Rio Nights is my 1st exposure to Paula Robison and her flute. This CD is a masterfully engineered collection of Latin-flavored smooth jazz tunes performed by a group of very talented musicians. What a talent Ms. Robison is. I give this CD a very enthusiastic two thumbs up! (both hands)

Each virtuosos in their own right, Paula Robison and company have done an incredible job in this wonderful collection of music for all to enjoy.

The performances featured on this album are perfect for classically trained flutists, world music fans, or any music lover to enjoy. From the 'swing' of "Rio Nights" (track 3) to the most expressive and beautiful piccolo solos of "Bem-te-vi" (track 8), this album radiates such an organic, tasteful, and fun loving energy that it is truly rewarding to listen to.

If you find that you like this recording - you might also research their first album together: Brasileirinho

Enjoy!

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see Paula Robison perform with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in NYC a few weeks back, performing all 6 of the Bach Brandenburg Concerti. I was absolutely hooked by Ms. Robison's sound, style, vocal approach, virtuosity, and MUSICIANSHIP. I came across her Rio Days, Rio Nights this past week, and after much listening, I have to say how incredibly inspiring this album is. As a classical musician studying in the orchestral performance field, it is so refreshing to hear such an exciting new concept of where music can take us. Ms. Robison is the best kind of instrumentalist - the kind that sings every note that comes out of her flute. Her sense of style and phrase are stunning, and her artistry is simply incomparable (not to mention a sound that is full of richness and color like no other).

If you want to hear absolutely fantastic musicianship and a voice that keeps inspiring you with every new listen, buy this album.

Peter Ajemian
New York, NY

Paula Robison's voice shines through once again on the reissue of Rio Days Rio Nights. The album is honest, joyful, and full of humanity. Listening to it, one gets the sense that she has lived in Brazil and played this music her entire life. Together with her three fabulous band members (Romero Lubambo on guitar, Cyro Baptista on percussion, and Sergio Brandao on bass and cavaquinho), Robison has created an album that is at once exciting, melancholy, and sensual. It is simply a dynamic recording that is impossible get enough of.

Flutist Paula Robison is joined by Romero Lubambo (accoustic guitar, seven string accoustic guitar), Cyro Baptista (percussion), and Sergio Brandao (electric bass, cavaquinho) for this very satisfying mix of Brazilian pieces.
This CD has a genuinely "live" feel to it and really draws the listener into the music. It's amazing to hear such a fresh performance captured on a CD recording! The convincing performances on "Rio Days, Rio Nights" are filled with energy and spirit. Robison's playing is expressive and authentic, and she really captures a strong Brazilian character

This recording can appeal to a wide range of listeners...anyone would enjoy it!

Paula Robison is an American icon in the classical music field. She has always had a refreshingly energetic and creative voice and this cd is no exception to her high standards of interpretation and artistry. Most of all, this is a fun, spontaneous cd that will take you on a journey straight to Rio. I have really enjoyed hearing it. What would we do without this distinct voice?

The combination of Paula Robison's excellent musicianship with three of Brazil's most virtuoso musicians; Romero Lubambo (Guitar), Cyro Baptista (Electric Bass and Cavaquinho), and Sergio Brandao (Percussion) creates a CD that provides a delightful experience for any listener. The CD is a fresh, high-spirited, and charming mix of sambas, choros, and fervos. It is enjoyable for the listener to hear how much fun the performers have playing with each other. A great addition to every CD collection!

This has been one of my most played CDs ever, and I am usually a rock and roll fan! The music is fun, beautiful, upbeat yet soothing. All instruments are played wonderfully, and the flute is just phenomenal. Great music for all occasions and all tastes. Makes me happy just thinking about it.

This is an interesting CD. While the selections and arrangements were top rated, The performance was inconsistent. The average score overall will be a fair 3 stars.

From the album title, I suppose it is an album with Brazilian festivity. Yes, the supporting musicians were twisting, but our main player Ms. Robison was not.

Ms. Robison has very beautiful yet mild tone for most part of the album. Her attitude & sound is very suitable for French compositions, not Brazilian. (Her album with Ruth Laredo is a much better one). For a high energy, fast tempo South American music selected here, she need to step out from her moderate classic box and have more excitement! Sometime, I sense that she was out of breath, trying to catch up with her fellow musicians.

Flute itself is not an instrument to produce large sound. It can, however, give appropriate light and shade. From Pixinguinha's year, flute has proven to be an adequate instrument for small Brazilian music ensemble. A modern example will be James Galway's excellent Latin selection: Tango Del Fuego, which overcome limit of tube and offered dazzling flavors.

The slower pieces in the album are where her specialty comes. With sensible intonation and subtle expression, this album can be enjoyable here and there. Too bad most songs requires dynamics and spirit of dances which Ms. Robison did not provide.

Names of songs in this albums were translated (or transformed) from Brazilian to English. I do not understand why. Maybe the arranger thought once the songs were re-configured, they deserve new names. But this cannot explain why spices were missing.

If you like Paula Robison, go for her classic CDs. There are a lot of excellent ones to choose from. You can skip this album, and miss almost nothing.