CD of the Day - "Portinho Trio: Vinho do Porto"

CD of the Day
Portinho Trio with special guest Jay Ashby: "Vinho do Porto" (MCG CD MCGJ 1033)
Top tracks: an inspired remake of Don Grolnick's "Pools" (a cult tune for Steps Ahead fans and one of the few fusion standards written in the 80s), Wayne Shorter's "Footprints", Carlos Lyra/Ronaldo Boscoli's seldom heard "Canção Que Morre No Ar", and the title track, "Vinho do Porto", a Dom Salvador original.
Featuring: Klaus Mueller (piano), Itaiguara Brandão (bass), Lincoln Goines (bass) and guest Jay Ashby (trombone & percussion).
Songs arranged by Portinho & Klaus Nueller.
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Who says a bossa-jazz CD can't be delightful, illuminating and accessible all at once?
Produced by the underrated trombone master Jay Ashby, this is the long-awaited debut album of Portinho as a leader.
A dear friend of mine, with whom I had the privilege to work in both Rio de Janeiro and New York during the 80s, in both studio sessions ("Harvest Time") and live gigs with Yana Purim (including an engagement at NY's jazz club "Mikell's" in 1987), Portinho is one of Brazil's top ten drummers of all time. Period.
We first met in 1986, when he performed at the Maksoud Plaza "150" nightclub in São Paulo, at the time of the release of my favorite Paquito D'Rivera album ever, "Explosion". After that engagement, Portinho took holidays in Rio, resting as my guest of honor in my houses in Rio and Petrópolis. We spent two weeks listening to music, talking about... music, and hanging out with our girlfriends.
And, long before we became friends, I was already a big fan of him, both as a drummer and as a percussionist, through his work on albums by Tania Maria ("Come with Me", "Made in New York"), Michel Legrand ("Le Jazz Grand"), Manfredo Fest (a series of delightful CDs for Tom Jung's DMP label), Harris Simon ("Swish", "New York Connection"), Gato Barbieri ("Viva Emiliano Zapata", "Alive in NY", "Ruby Ruby"), Franco Ambrosetti & Don Sebesky ("Ambrosetti & Sebesky"), Charlie Rouse (his Brazilian fusion adventure "Cinnamon Flower"), Dom Salvador (his US debut date, "My Family"), Primo Quintet ("Bailando Bossa Nova en El Camichin", recorded during his days at Mexico and recently reissued on CD)and dozens of others. I still call him "Portintio", because that's how his name was mispelled on the credits of Dom Um Romão's debut LP for Muse Records in 1973.
Later on, I had the opportinity to produce CD reissues ("Amazon") and compilations ("The Essential") of Thiago de Mello's projects on which Portinho had participated.
And of course I've continued to follow him as a fan on his recordings with Eliane Elias, Hendrik Meurkens, Paquito D'Rivera, Claudio Roditi (I wrote the liner notes to the "Slow Fire" CD in 1989), Ana Caram, Jon Lucien, Arturo Sandoval and even the French songstress Clémentine. Not to mention the LaserDisc "The Devil's Toothpick" for CTI/Pioneer and his DVD with Kenia, "Live at Warsaw Jazz Festival", filmed in 1991. I only regret that the recording of a wonderful duo concert with guitar legend Luiz Bonfa at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in 1974, in Washington, DC (when they shared the stage with Dave Brubeck), has not seen the light of the day yet.
Currently, there's a work-in-progress album with the NY-based Brazilian singer Monika Oliveira.
If Portinho's name appears on the credits, I get the album. ANY album. No matter who is the leading artist. You should do the same too. Specially when HE is the leading artist.
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“For me it is a dream come true to have such excellent musicians on my CD and a major label like MCG Jazz,” says Portinho.

“I watched him play with many of the greats in jazz, like Tania Maria, Gato Barbieri, Paquito D'Rivera, and many others,” says Rob Crocker, WBGO-FM. “Whether Portinho is playing at the world famous Blue Note or the underground cellar spot (downtown New York City) called the Zinc Bar, you can bet your last dollar he is going to swing the band. While this recording features the drummer as leader, it is not one that is overpowered by the drums. Rather what you have is a ‘hip’ CD of trio & quartet music.”

Born in Brazil, Portinho moved to the United States in the early 1970s. Since arriving in the US, Portinho has worked with many artists, including Michel Legrand, Manfredo Fest, Don Sebesky, Franco Ambrosetti, Dom Um Romão, Tania Maria, Luiz Bonfá, Airto Moreira (touring with him for a brief period in 1974), Gato Barbieri, Harry Belafonte, Dom Salvador, Paquito D'Rivera, Astrud Gilberto, and Michel Camilo.

In his book "My Sax Life", Paquito D’Rivera states, “I really dislike those percussionists who are convinced that energy and swing are direct products of an exaggerated volume and overplaying, even though there are clear examples who prove just the opposite, such as Lewis Nash, Mark Walker, Grady Tate, Mel Lewis, Ben Riley, and especially Portinho; one of the most tasteful, yet energetic and joyful percussionists of all times.”

“When I first came to New York and started exploring the music scene, it quickly became apparent to me that Portinho is one of the most unique and powerful drummers I’ve ever heard,” says Mueller. “That said, it is an honor to be part of this CD production.” Goines adds, “It has been my pleasure to participate on this project with my friends Klaus and Jay – and especially with my old friend and mentor Portinho who taught me the inner meaning of the samba, and its artful application.” Ashby goes on to say, “Vinho Do Porto represents a set of great arrangements, all of which are perfectly crafted to highlight one of the most unique and distinctive voices of the modern drum set – Portinho.”

The performing version of Portinho Trio currently consists of Portinho on drums, Klaus Mueller on piano, and Lincoln Goines on bass.

Portinho needs little introduction. Born in Brazil he moved to the States in the early 1970s. Since arriving in the United States, Portinho has worked with many artists, including Gato Barbieri, Harry Belafonte, Dom Salvador, Paquito D'Rivera, Astrud Gilberto, Michel Camilo, and Tania Maria. “Portinho is a quiet, modest man with a strong sense of integrity. Everything he plays has a statement in it, and the groove never stops.” – says Carl Stormer (Modern Drummer, 1988). Portinho plays Paiste Cymbals Mapex Drums.

Portinho has recorded with everyone from Nancy Wilson to Michel Legrand. His engagements have paired him with Herbie Mann to Jon Lucien and he has performed clinic as far away as Denmark and Switzerland and Germany.

A dynamic pianist of diverse influences and abilities, Klaus Mueller was born in Germany and raised in Japan, Chile and Brazil. He has performed with Kenny Garrett, Nilson Matta, Claudio Roditi, Toninho Horta, Joan Osborne, and many others. He moved to New York City in 1998 when he was offered a full scholarship to complete his studies at the New School. Tours and workshops have led him throughout the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Russia, and Caribbean.

Mueller is not only regarded as a keyboardist, but also as an arranger, most notably for jazz piano legend Herbie Hancock. The orchestral arrangements Mueller produced for Hancock were for the “Gershwin’s World” tour in collaboration with Robert Sadin. They were performed by the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many other orchestras across the world.

Electric bassist, Lincoln Goines is a mainstay of the New York City jazz, Latin, and studio scene. Lincoln has recorded and performed with an extensive list of artists including Sonny Rollins, Gato Barbieri, Dave Grusin, Carly Simon, Paquito D'Rivera, Tania Maria, Michel Camilo, Eliane Elias, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Dave Samuels, Mike Stern, and Wayne Krantz. He is also an author, composer, and music educator.

Jay Ashby is emerging as one of the bright new soloist, producers and arrangers in the jazz field. Ashby is a four-time GRAMMY Award winner and six-time nominee for producing and arranging for artists such as Nancy Wilson, Count Basie Orchestra, Paquito D’Rivera and New York Voices.

As a result of his long time association with trumpet master Claudio Roditi, Ashby developed a strong affinity towards “Brazilian Jazz” which resulted initially in a 10-year stint as soloist with Astrud Gilberto, and later led to arrangements, tours and recordings with various Brazilian artists including: Tania Maria (with whom I saw him performing in an unforgettable open-air concert at the World Trade Center back in 1991), Kenia (with whom he was married in the 80s) and Ivan Lins. In addition, Jay’s experience in other areas of jazz is extensive, including performances and recordings with Paquito D’Rivera, New York Voices, Emily Remler and Stanley Turrentine.