Customer Reviews

Romance:Brazilian Love Songs

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I stumbled across a new CD by Rosa Passos today - an artist whose material I will buy without hesitation, given the quality of the work she's done over the course of her career. Rosa's voice is simply one of the most beautiful musical instruments on the planet. When world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma first discovered Rosa's music, he wrote to her and said `I've fallen in love with your voice...' - he later played on her 2004 release, AMOROSA, and the two of them have since worked on other projects together. I'm certain that many other listeners, famous or not, have been touched by the beauty of her music in a similar fashion - I know that I have. The material she chooses is always first-rate (including her own compositions), arranged and performed with impeccable style and grace.

2006's ROSA featured just her voice and guitar - an album of breathtaking beauty, and one that I can return to again and again without any fear of it wearing thin. On her new release, ROMANCE, she returns to the small-group setting she has used to such fine advantage through the years - her lovely voice is framed perfectly by 6-7 very sensitive and capable accompanists. There are no more than 6 players on any given track, and it's obvious that everyone is listening to all of the contributors - no one tries to outshine anyone. The arrangements (all by individual band members except for one group effort) are thoughtful, fresh and relaxed.

The songs on ROMANCE come from the pens of some of Brazil's all-time greats - the ubiquitous Antonio Carlos Jobim, along with Vinicius De Moraes, Ivan Lins, Chico Buarque, Joćo Donato, Djavan, Dorival Caymmi, and others. These writers have gifted so many great compositions to the world of Brazilian music, many of which have become standards - in Rosa's hands, they become her own. She pours her heart and soul into her singing, but in such a gentle, natural way that nothing ever comes across as sounding forced or disingenuous. The songs have strength and emotion, coupled with the soft touch of a night breeze off the ocean or a morning warmed gently by the sun. The fact that Rosa sings in Portuguese takes absolutely nothing away from the feelings she communicates - there's an intimacy in her delivery that leaves me feeling that she's singing just for me. It's that captivating.

I can heartily recommend ROMANCE - that being said, everything I've heard by her is of the highest quality, a world of incredibly beautiful music. Her recordings ROSA (2006), AMOROSA (2004) and ENTRE AMIGOS (AMONG FRIENDS, with the great American jazz bassist Ron Carter) are especially noteworthy - but it would be impossible to go wrong buying anything she has released.

Rosa must had been lovely inspired when recorded this album . This time she comes with her known repertoire however her voice is so precise and soft in each verse and is followed by beautiful and elaborate instruments . The cd might sound slow at first , but if you let it play in full you will see how elaborate and sophisticated the cd is . She has recorded some of those songs before but now they come filled with rich instrumental solos . It's a record that you can put it to play in your room and let it go forever . You really get into the music and feel like diving or flying . So beautiful . My favorite 'Tatuagem' is really a musical journey . 'Eu sei que vou te amar' has a beautiful solo in the middle . 'Nem Eu' starts very slow but it will also have a beautiful arrangement thru the end. 'Alibi' and 'Por causa de voce' are something abnormal (lol) , so good they are . Rosa Passos must have the best players on her side , it's amazing what they do with their instruments. The whole cd is enjoyable and consistent . It couldn't be different when talking about Rosa Passos . Love her , and 'Romance' is a valuable gift for us .

I am once again knocked out by the artistry of my favorite female vocalist.Rosa brings so much emotion to each track that if she were an actor she would get an Oscar for this new release. I especially like her use of space and timing. Singing in and out and around the wonderful musicians who accompany her so well. I can not stop listening to this disc.

My expectations for this album was high,but my expectations was for sure met.Cant get enough of this beautiful ladys voice and her phrasing over those sophisticated harmonies. There is no pretensions no nothing just Rosa.

Here Rosa is joined again by that unbeleivable guitarplayer Lula Galvao his lines has such

a tranquillity even when he plays fast and he is speaking to us and it is just wonderful to listen.Should also mention great Fluegelhorn player Danel Alcantara wow,,his lines are so sweet and soft.

Thanks Rosa. what would the world be with out you!!!!

Anders Jonasson July 4 2008

This is an outstanding recording of classic bossa nova by one of the great voices of our time

While many went nuts over Rosa Passos' last c.d., "Rosa," I respectfully dissented. On that c.d., Rosa accompanied herself on guitar, and evidently sang and played simultaneously. I argued that the situation precluded truly beautiful music-making, at least on that recording.

That is not the issue on this recording at all. Here, Ms. Passos is accompanied by a number of wonderful Brazilian instrumentalists, including Luca Galvao on guitar and Fabio Torres on piano, and is left simply to sing and interpret. And what a job of interpretation she does!

This is a c.d. of a number of Bossa tunes, from composers as diverse as Jobim (of course), Chico Barque and Minas Gerais, but also Ivan Lins, Dorival Caymi and Djavani. She performs all of these tunes in her native Portuguese; but really, she sings all of them in the universal language of love.

Ms. Passos knows when to put weight in her singing voice, and when to sing lighter than a feather. She can sigh, sob, whisper, wail, sing coyly, sing warmly, and sometimes all of the above simultaneously. She not only sings all of the colors in the rainbow, a box of Crayolas doesn't have as many colors as the ones she displays.

Bottom line: You don't have to know a word of Portuguese (not even "saudade"!), to understand what Rosa Passos is singing about, or to appreciate - even cherish - this c.d. Her stories resonate with the viewpoint of one who has seen it all, and yet still believes in love.

Both Jazz Times and Down Beat rated this Telarc release as one of the best vocal jazz recordings of 2008. Surprise, surprise - they're right. RC