Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ana Gazzola & Sonia Santos: Brasil Brazil 2

Ana Gazzola & Sonia Santos: Brasil Brazil 2

By Jim Santella
September 1, 2000
View read count

Ana Gazzola & Sonia Santos: Brasil Brazil 2

Amid the driving back beats and Carnaval percussion, two singers combine jazz with Brazilian popular music for a good time and for authenticity. Although each has recorded separately, this is their second album together. Both sing in the alto range with compassion. Ana Gazzola sings with a smooth-toned, laid-back approach, while Sonia Santos performs in a rich, overtone-laden, percussive style. An established band performing Afro-Brazilian rhythms follows their every move and supports their storytelling with contemporary sounds. Together, the ensemble recalls the widespread popularity of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66. A brief video and sound clips from their recordings are available at http://www.BrasilBrazilShow.com .

Jobim’s "Aguas de Março" represents the duo’s light, bright vocal style, as they run through phrase after phrase of call & response. From a natural setting, the song is impressionistic and allows the pair to balance syncopation with meaningful phrasing. The up-tempo folk song "Tililingo," while suitable for happy feet, includes the sounds of accordion and acoustic guitar. Gazzola and Santos blend in close harmony, matching their articulation with the band’s percussive rhythms. "Fest na Floresta" brings the ensemble closer to jazz, with its driving rhythm, unique berimbau timbre, and subtle vocal improvisation. The mood is one of general celebration, but with relaxed participants. It’s convincing. The happiness Gazzola and Santos exude is contagious.

Track Listing

Batucada; Tristeza; Ponteio; Mediterr

Personnel

Ana Gazzola

vocals

Ana Gazzola- vocals, add acoustic guitar on "Funk da Banda;" Sonia Santos- vocals; Grecco Buratto- acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar; Tamir Hendelman, Rashid Lanie- keyboards; Rafael Lima- electric bass; Cristiano Bertolucci- drums; Cassio Duarte- programming, percussion; Mestre Cabral- repinique, caixa, tamborins, apito; Claudinho Smile- surdo, pandeiro, berimbau; Edinho da cuica- cuica; Z

Album information

Title: Brasil Brazil 2 | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Yellow Green Productions

About Ana Gazzola

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Charles Lloyd: Crossing the Waters W...
< Previous

Passages
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.