Monday, July 16, 2007

Ithamara Koorax: "Brazilian Butterfly" review by Bruce Crowther

Ithamara Koorax Brazilian Butterfly (Irma IRM 830 CD)
Reviewed by Bruce Crowther www.swing2bop.com/reviews.html
Album produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro

For Brazilian Butterfly, her latest release, Ithamara has surrounded herself with some outstanding instrumentalists, including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, organist Francesco Gazzara, trombonist Raul de Souza, and a remarkable team of percussionists: Dom Um Romao, Eloir de Moraes, Thiago de Mello, Laudir de Oliveira, Marcelo Slazar, Sidinho Moreira and Jadir de Castro. Warm and exciting, this is a superb example of Brazilian music at its very best. Vocally and instrumentally, this is flawless; the song selection is excellent, including as it does Milton Nascimento's 'Escravos de Jo', Herbie Hancock's 'Butterfly' and Geraldo Vandre's 'Fica Mal Com Deus'. This packed CD (79 minutes) is filled with exceptional musical moments and although it is virtually impossible to choose one track over all the others, the scorching improvised vocal line on Romao's 'Amor Em Jacuma' demands repeated playing.

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