Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Marco Figueira: Brazilliance

150

Marco Figueira: Brazilliance

By

Sign in to view read count
Marco Figueira: Brazilliance
Marco Figueira has all the right things going for him on this aptly named recording, where he brings into play several of the streams that flow into Brazilian music. Figueira made New York City his home since 1988, and he's played with several of the best-known musicians of the genre. Some of them join him here, augmenting the core band of Paulo Andre Tavares (acoustic and electric guitars), Sergio Brandao (bass) and Paulo Braga (drums, percussion).

Figueira has a voice that flits into the soul of a song. He knows how to touch on the emotive pulse and wrap himself around the lyrics. He brings in a balmy air on "Corcovado. The warmth that floats from his voice is given impetus, and contrast, by Helio Alves, whose piano takes a brighter line—and by Hendrik Meurkens, who snuggles his harmonica into the pulse set by Figueira.

Besides Jobim, Figueira includes "Fieto Nos, a percussive delight from the songbook of Milton Nascimento. It is a happy rave-up, Figueira singing with carefree passion with Tavares adding sparkling melodic lines on the acoustic guitar. The group carouses on the upbeat "Vem Ca, which sways with a graceful abandon, the hypnotic rhythm flexed by the percussion and Hiram Bullock's fluid electric guitar.

The resonance and the warmth of Brazilian music are winningly captured by Figueira on Brazilliance.

Track Listing

Vem Ca; Minha; Amizade; Olho de Peixe; Preta-Porter de Tafeta; Romance; Dunas; Corcovado; Feito Nos; O Barquinho; Aguas de Marco; Aluamania; Romance.

Personnel

Marco Figueira: vocals; Paulo Andre Tavares: acoustic and electric guitars; Sergio Brandao: bass; Paulo Braga: drums, percussion; Helio Alves: piano; Hendrik Meurkens: harmonica; Claudio Roditi: trumpet; Hiram Bullock: electric guitar; Mauro Refosco: percussion, programming; Oscar Feldman: alto sax, flute; Kerry Linder/Luiz Simas: backing vocals.

Album information

Title: Brazilliance | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Blue Toucan Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.