CD of the Day - "Raul de Souza: Bossa Eterna"

CD of the Day
Raul de Souza: "Bossa Eterna" (Biscoito Fino) 2008
Featuring: João Donato, Luiz Alves, Robertinho Silva, Mauricio Einhorn
Arranged by Raul and Donato, coordinated by Yolaine de Souza and executive producer Wagner Merije.
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After the stunning "Soul & Creation" captured last year in Austria with Idris Muhammad and Alegre Correa, Raul returned to a Brazilian studio last March to record "Bossa Eterna" in Rio.
It's the first session co-led by two of Brazil's greatest musicians ever, although Raul had appered before in some of Donato's albums recorded in the 90s, most notably on a memorable date ("Café com Pão") the pianist shared with the late drummer/percussionist Eloir de Moraes. Not to mention that Donato's songs have been integral part of Raul's albums since his solo debut in 1965 ("À Vontade Mesmo", which included "Muito À Vontade") till the best-selling 1977 release "Sweet Lucy" (which showed "Banana Tree" aka "Bananeira" to the world).
Having worked many times in live and studio sessions with Donato - including two albums he recorded in the 2000s for my JSR label with Palmyra & Levita, the incredible duo from Bahia; not to mention that Donato took part in the first album I officially produced (Yana Purim's debut LP for RCA) when I was 17 years old -, I can guarantee it's always a joy to be with him in a studio project.
Raul, Brazil's top trombonist of all time, is another "satisfaction guaranteed" choice. When he took part of Ithamara Koorax's acclaimed "Brazilian Butterfly" CD, every note he played gave me goose bumps.
Now, celebrating the 50 years of bossa nova in 2008, Raul & Joao Donato join forces for a very relaxed and soulful album. Donato's acoustic piano quotes the Ary Barroso-penned Brazilian hymn "Aquarela do Brasil" in the intro of the opening tune, the title track "Bossa Eterna". It's a perfect synthesis of the album: tradition and modernity interact without any constraints. And, unfortunately, without Rhodes or synths that could give the session a more contemporary feel.
Old gems flow with ease and rhythimic heat: Baden Powell's "Só Por Amor", Tito Madi's "Balanço Zona Sul", Jobim's "Bonita" and Durval Ferreira/Mauricio Einhorn's "Nuvens", the only track where Einhorn's harmonica appears (this bossa-ballad was introduced here in the USA by Cannonball Adderley, 46 years ago!, on "Cannonball's Bossa Nova" for Riverside).
The gentle "Fim de Sonho", recorded by Donato on "Quem É Quem" in 1973, receives a latin-flavored pulse. "Malandro" was composed in 1970 for the masterpiece "A Bad Donato", and retitled "Nãna das Águas" in 73 when Geraldo Carneiro added lyrics for its inclusion on "Quem É Quem".
Raul contributes the originals "Bossa Eterna", "A la Donato" and "Pingo d'Água", a showcase for his souzabone and its electronic devices heard for the first time on the "Don't Ask My Neighbors" album.
Now I hope Donato & Raul could tour USA together soon.