Yotam: Brasil (2011)

Larry Taylor

Contributor since 2006

Larry retired from teachng college journalism after over 20 years, coming to teaching from 15 years in the newspaper business working for Ridder-Johns Newspapers.

Recent articles (88 total)

Published: November 29, 2011

Two reviews of Israeli-born guitarist Yotam's Brasil appeared recently in All About Jazz, and the reviewers had major differences.

Lawrence Peryer had a negative view, summed up by: "Yotam take his place on the list between Yanni and Zamfir, offering a denatured version of a musical form that has already proven itself accessible enough in more sophisticated hands," while Dan Bilawsky had a more positive view: "While guitarist Yotam Silberstein was born more than six thousand miles from Ipanema Beach, he displays the understanding, insight and sensitivity of a man who was born and bred in the land of Jobim."

Had both these writers seen the same film—or, to the point, had they heard the same record?

Both opinions can be appreciated. Samba and bossa nova music initially featured acoustic guitar, such as Antonio Carlos Jobim Antonio Carlos Jobim
1927 - 1994
piano , Joao Gilberto Joao Gilberto
b.1931
vocal and Dori Caymmi Dori Caymmi
b.1943
guitar . In Yotam's CD, he plays amplified guitar, and brings in various Brazilian soloists, including percussionist Vaderlei Pereira, pianist David Feldman and, particularly important to this session, acoustic guitarist Toninho Horta Toninho Horta

guitar .

Mainstream stars trumpeter Roy Hargrove Roy Hargrove
b.1969
trumpet , flutist Sharel Cassity Sharel Cassity

saxophone and clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera Paquito D'Rivera
b.1948
saxophone also take part, and If these disparate players could despoil Brazilian music's wellspring, it could be countered that it would just as well add spice.

Yotam's amplified guitar in tandem with Horta's acoustic is a big strength of this recording, as on the profoundly beautiful Yotam original, "Nocturno," which sets Horta trilling against Yotam's amplified melody. Later on Caymmi's "Samba da Minha Terra," the two have a ball, Horta strumming, Yotam throwing out single notes.

Others shine also. On Jobim's "Falando de Amour," Hargrove (on flugelhorn) and Cassity flow smoothly into a stream of guitar, while Pereira shows off his percussion talents in Jobim/Buarque's catchy favorite, "Eu te Amo," behind Rivera's swirling clarinet.

Regardless of how authentically Brazilian the arrangements are, Brasil is a certified listening pleasure.

Track Listing: Influencia do Jazz (Influence of Jazz); Doce De Coco (Sweet Coconut); Falando de Amor (Words of Love); Saudade Da Bahia (Missing Bahia); Antigua; Nocturno; Piano Na Mangueira; Eu te Amo (And I Love Her); O Barquinho (My Little Boat); Pra Dizer Adeus (To Say Goodbye); Samba da Minha Terra (Samba of My Country).

Personnel: Yotam Silberstein: guitar, bandolim, vocals; David Feldman: piano; John Lee: acoustic bass guitar; Vanderlei Pereira: drums and percussion; Sharel Cassity: alto flute, clarinet; Roy Hargrove: flugelhorn (3, 5, 6, 9); Paquito D'Rivera: clarinet (4, 8); Toninho Horta: acoustic guitar (6, 11); Claudio Roditi: flugelhorn (8).

Record Label: Jazz Legacy Productions