Celebrate Brazil – Songs from Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Porto Alegre (ARC Music EUCD 2505, 2014)
The title indicates that the release will be an audio tour of sorts, representing the best of the music coming out of a cohesive musical community today. That is a specialty of ARC Music, something no other label does as well as this one does. Close your eyes, and this release becomes your ticket to Brazil’s best current musical offering. Open your eyes, and it is, at the least, a travel agent’s most potent ally.
… how to describe an anthology of songs from a foreign country sung in a foreign language? That’s an ongoing challenge and joy in reviewing such releases. Among possible solutions – namedrop some music industry names that might listen to the release. For this one, this reviewer is thinking Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. “WHAT,” you think, as a World Music fan? Well, the world’s getting smaller, we all have access to each other’s vibes, and this particular release keeps the strong percussion of Brazil while leaning heavily on small, combo rock band mainstream instrumentation and three-chord rhythm. I am not saying that this is a collection of wannabe future Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison song embryos that happen to be sung in Portuguese, but 25 years ago, when those names had fresher ears less formula-restricted by consultants, this is exactly the sort of thing that put and kept them on top.
In short, treat your ears to “Celebrate Brazil.”
Buy Celebrate Brazil – Songs from Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Porto Alegre
Author: Arthur Shuey
Arthur has been reviewing music for publications since 1976 and began focusing almost exclusively on world music in 2012.
His musical background includes past presidencies of the Cape Fear Musicians Association and Blues Society of the Lower Cape Fear, founding membership in nine other blues societies, service on 17 music festival planning committees, two decades of teaching harmonica to individuals and groups, operating a small recording studio and performing solo and in combos for 30 years.
Arthur has written professionally since 1975, pieces ranging from short fiction to travel articles, humor to poetry, mainly for local and regional entertainment media. His blog,” Shuey’s World,” is featured at www.accesswilmington.com.
