Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jim Nolet: Arco Vos

Jim Nolet: Arco Vos

By C. Michael Bailey
February 1, 2001
View read count

Jim Nolet finds himself in a decidedly Bossa-Nova Mood on this new Cathexis release.

Syzygy, Jim Nolet's previous Cathexis release, was a cyber cross between Nicolo Paganini and John Coltrane (the latter's "Central Park West" and "Countdown" being creatively covered by Nolet and his crack band. It was highly virtuosic and smacked of superb technique and intelligent performance. Part of Syzygy 's intelligence was a powerful internal cohesion that revolved around the near avant-guard realm in Jazz. Nolet infuses this same cohesion into his latest release, Arco Vos, this time focusing on a readily appealing Bossa Nova humor.

Arco Vos is a very interesting disc because of Nolet's mixing of viola and voices on nearly all tracks. This wonderful alchemy results in a breathy display of the arc-sensual side of Brazilian music. The effect is aurally one of cultivated sexuality, not that of humid earthiness, but of sweet essence, like fine cologne.

Two standards are included ("You don't Know What Love Is" and "Let's Get Lost"), both really breathing in Nolet's account. The almost melancholy viola is well-chosen over the violin for these pensive exercises.

I would recommend Arco Vos without condition for any fan of Bossa Nova. It is a splendid update of that time-tried genre. Mr. Nolet should find himself on marked on the ballot of many jazz critics this year as the finest jazz violinist playing.

Track Listing

El Preciso Perdoar / Me Deiux Em Paz; Samba Da Pergunta; Algo; Modo Paulista; Joana Francesa; You Don't Kno' What Love Is; Esse Sew Olhar; Let's Get'Lost; Lygia; Samba De Orfeu. (Total Time: 47:35)

Personnel

Jim Nolet

Jim Nolet: Viola; Rodrigo Rodrigues: Guitar, Vocals; Mario Manga: Cello, Guitar; Celio Barros: Acoustic Bass; Adriano Busko: Percussion; Luiz Carlos De Paula: Percussion; Monica Salmaso, Marcia Lopes; Ana Amelia, Maria Castello: Vocals.

Album information

Title: Arco Vos | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Cathexis Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Dem Bones
< Previous

Dot Com Blues
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.