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Masha Campagne: Caminhos Cruzados = Crossroads
ByCampagne moved to San Francisco in 1991 and jumped into the jazz scene by joining the Foothill College vocal group, Fanfares, which won first place in the Down Beat's vocal jazz competition. A love of Brazilian music, which she discovered while still in high school via the records of Joao Gilberto, Tom Jobim and Elis Regina, inspired her to create her debut, Caminhos Cruzados = Crossroads.
The appeal of the classic recordings of the Brazilian sound lies in its floating rhythms, intricate and gorgeously understated arrangements, and straightforward vocals. Campagne and company traverse that territory with a spring in their steps combined with a true love of the tradition.
The centerpiece, "Jobim Medley," combines three classics"So Tinha Ser Com Voce," "Camnihos Cruzados," and "Samba Do Aviao." The trio of tunes, seductively arranged by Rio de Janeiro-raised pianist Weber Iago, brings the rich sound of the cello into the mix to accompany Campagne's zestfully seductive vocals.
Iago deserves special mention here. His deft and lively arrangements of the Brazilian tunes, along with the bossa tints he gives to Cole Porter's "So In Love" and Rodgers and Harts "It Might As Well Be Spring" are superb. His use of the string quartet on "Pra Quem Quiser Me Visitar" and "O Coco Do Coco" are the set's highlights.
The Campagne/Iago up-tempo take on "It Might as Well Be Spring" is juiced up, jazz style, by Harvey Wainapel's tenor sax and Campagne's saucy vocal, leading into the sparejust Iago's piano and the rich tones of Campagne's voice"Faltando Um Pendaco." It's a wistful, contemplative closer, to a beautiful set of Brazilian sounds from start-to-finish.
Track Listing
Romance/Alem Das Nuvens; So In Love; Doralice; Jobim Medley: So Tinha De Ser Com Voce, Caminhos Cruzados, Samba De Aviao; Pra Quem Quiser Me Visitar; O Coco Do Coco; It Might As Well Be Spring; Faltando Um Pedaco.
Personnel
Masha Campagne
vocalsMasha Campagne: vocals; Weber Iago: piano, arrangements; Harvey Wainapel: saxophones; Carlos Oliviera: acoustic guitar; Joanna Blendulf: cello; Dan Robbins: bass; Michael Spiro: percussion; Paul van Wageninger: drums; David Belove: electric bass; Rich Kuhns: accordion; Phil Thompson: drums; String quartet: Jessica Poll: 1st violin; John Fairweather: 2nd violin; Darcy Rindt: viola; Joanna Blendulf: cello.
Album information
Title: Caminhos Cruzados = Crossroads | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Self Produced