Diego Figueiredo: Follow the Signs

Grammy-nominated Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo is considered to be one of the finest acoustic guitarists in the world. A classically-trained musician influenced by Brazilian masters Joao Gilberto and Baden Powell, he has also integrated the styles of American guitarists George Benson, Pat Metheny and the great Joe Pass into his playing. Figueiredo has recorded almost thirty albums to date.

Accompanying the guitarist here are fellow countrymen percussionist Marcilio Garcetti and bassist Eduardo Machado aided by a five-piece string section helping to blend the bossa nova with the samba for a distinctive classical Brazilian sound not often heard. The light Latin percussive sounds spiked with lovely Brazilian rhythms define this album and artist as exceptional.

The guitarist pays tribute to Brazilian icons Joao Gilberto on "Dear John" and to one of the founders of bossa nova, Antonio Carlos Jobim on the wonderful "Jobim Forever," followed by the only standard on the album with a Latin-styled treatment of the classic Erroll Garner chart "Misty." The guitarist goes it alone on the solo "Our Friends," and returns to the samba on "Samba in New Orleans," then turns warm and down-tempo on "My Home," perhaps referring to his home of Franca, Brazil, before delivering a swinging finger-picking performance on "Five Times."

There are plenty of other special moments to be appreciated here as this virtuoso guitarist provides all throughout Follow the Signs, until this musical journey arrives at the Brazilian location Diego Figueiredo has so skillfully charted.