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Bob Powers When Brazilian performer Tania Maria first came to the United States, she created a minor sensation. While many Latin singers and musicians have reached star status in America, Tania Maria seemed a special case. With a distinctive piano style, the pleasing combination of voice matching the piano note for note, she seemed far beyond the usual.
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For whatever reason, Tania faded from view after making a series of excellent recordings on the reliable Concord Records label. The notes for the new release,"Viva Brazil, " offer no explanation for her "disappearance." But the good news remains: Tania Maria has returned with the best collection of material in her career.
Often classified as a Latin Jazz musician, she shows in this dynamic session that she's ready to claim her rightful place in the pantheon of the category's finest. Her voice here contains a newfound element of profound peace with herself. Sounding at times like an august version of herself, embroidered with a stunning sense of authority, she has assembled an album of winners. There's no filler material here. Just gems, polished to their highest brilliance.
The set opens with a delightful version of "Florzinha 'Petite Fleur.'" Next she combines her Brazilian sensibilities with her jazz chops to produce a superb melding of "Ta Tudo Certo" and "Mas Que Nada," the latter a perennial in the Brazil 66 catalog.
Possibly the album's most innovative and satisfying number is "One Note Samba." Tania Maria takes the old gem by Antonio Carlos Jobim and performs it as a soft and sultry ballad, its tempo cut back to a surprising extent. The result is truly stunning, turning the old but appealing warhorse into something entirely new.
Tania Maria's voice contains varying shades and shadows, as she carries a writer's sense of authentic interpretation of her material, self-assured that her way is the only way. Occasionally, there's a slight resemblance to the marvelous Diana Krall, generally considered today as one of the very best jazz singers. That they possess a complimentary sensibility seems to bode well.
More Latin Goodies
The City of Cincinnati is renowned for its German heritage, being home of the usually good Reds baseball team and the hapless football Bengals, who seem to reach new levels of mediocrity with each season.You'd never think of Latin music in connection with those proud burghers in dear old Cincy. Think again. There's a sizzling Latin band called Latin X-posure, a group that has been in existence for three years and attracting a growing and loyal band of admirers.
Cincinnati also is home to J Curve Records, which is establishing a proud reputation as purveyor of some of the best jazz being recorded today. The company now has branched out with its own Latin label, called J Curve Sabroso. The initial release features Latin X-posure, a 12-piece group that plays a wide variety of Latin music, including salsa, merengue, bolero and Latin jazz.
The group consists of 12 musicians. Their backgrounds include Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru and Cuba. Members of Cincinnati's popular PsychoAcoustic Orchestra also participate in the recording.
With four singers, four horns, a bassist and three percussionists, Latin X-posure manages to create some tasty sounds, while remaining authentic to its Latin roots but also aware of modern jazz conventions.
Laura Toscaris sings the bolero, "I Thought I Heard Your Name," which conceivably could achieve fame as a single. It's a strong melody, with the appealing voice of Ms. Toscaris adding to its appeal. Also intriguing is "Esta Noche Donde Estas," which is based on a melody by Frederic Chopin.
J Curve founder Dale Rabiner has a good thing going with this Latin jazz label. He is to be commended for his foresight. Next in his plans is a new label that will focus on blues, r&b, and roots music. J Curve Roots & Blues will focus on guitar phenom Scotty Anderson. I'll let you know when the first release appears.
Latin Once More
That distinctive jazz company Fantasy Records was involved in producing some of the greatest albums of the last half of the 20th century. These days, the fine folks at Fantasy devote much of their energies to compiling and reissuing great music from Fantasy's early days. An example is "La Fiesta! The Jazz Giants in a Latin Mood."Perusing the vaults has brought forth an exciting assemblage of impressive artists playing familiar and unusual tunes. The lineup will attract attention from both jazz and Latin aficionados. The album opens with a 1975 version of Chico O'Farrell's "Calidoscolpio," Machito's big band. The track includes a fine solo by Dizzy Gillespie.
The standard "Besame Mucho" gets a warm reading by Art Pepper, one of the most impressive alto performers of the century. The Duke Ellington Orchestra is heard in a 1968 performance of "Eque." Eric Dolphy plays flute on a Latin rendition of "Spring Is Here," recorded in 1960.
Also appearing are vibist Terry Gibbs, alto fireball James Moody, guitarist supreme Wes Montgomery, and tenor giant Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis.
This is an album that should find favor with anyone interested in just plain good music.
COMING NEXT WEEK: Record companies sometimes are prone to hyping new albums just a bit too much. That's not the case with theÝrelease from bluegrass band Breakaway. "Hold with Hope" is one of the new albums to be covered next week, along with a reissue of an album by Tom Chapin (best known as Harry's younger brother). Be here or be square!
