Dan Kleiman: Siora

Don Williamson

Recent articles (223 total)

Published: February 1, 2000

Straight out of Philadelphia—home of Coltrane, Benny Golson, Ted Curson, the Heaths, Odean Pope, McCoy Tyner, Mickey Roker, Joey DeFrancesco, and on and on—comes, surprisingly, some excellent Brazilian music.

Don't ask me how it got there. It's there, take my word for it.

Seemingly the inspiration of keyboardist Dan Kleiman, "Siora" the CD and, I assume, Siora the group take hold of Brazilian rhythms and deliver a repertoire of indigenous tune, as well as Kleiman compositions, with assurance, insight and affection.

Singer and guitarist Phyllis Chapell, however, stands out on every number, singing as she does the tunes interchangeably in English and Portuguese with clarity and understanding of the lyrics. Often backed by flutist Marc Adler, who assumes a Dave Valentin sensibility about things Brazilian, Chapell goes beyond singing. I mean, what use are the lyrics if you can't understand them, right? How many Americans understand Portuguese? Extending lyrics into sonic possibilities, Chapell's voice becomes another one of the instruments as she wordlessly asserts melody and takes the songs along her own route, wavering half tones and zooming along with sounds of her own making in approximation of instrumental sounds.

"Siora" introduces a group influenced-nay, invigorated-by Brazilian culture, and as a result, Kleiman and Company have contributed to the genre as well.

Track Listing: Libre; Canto de Ossanha; Solitaire; Paramour; Agoniza, Mas Nao Morre; Points Of You; Under Paris Skies; Canyon Grand; Willy's Theme

Personnel: Dan Kleiman, piano, keyboards; Phyllis Chapell, vocals, guitar; Marc Adler, flutes; Chico Huff, bass; Steve Holloway, drums; Larry Marshall, Pablo Batista, percussion

Record Label: Encounter
Style: Latin/World