Diego Figueiredo: I Love Samba

One upside to Brazilian-born guitarist Diego Figueiredo's latest album, I Love Samba, is that the title says it all. In case you are unfamiliar with Figueiredo, you should know that he not only loves samba, he also plays samba—quite well—and has entertained audiences in more than sixty countries around the world doing exactly that. And while he is only in his mid-forties, I Love Samba brings the number of CDs Figueiredo has under his belt as leader of his own groups to almost thirty.

Here, Figuieredo oversees an all-star "quartet" (disclaimer to follow) whose other members are flutist Itai Kriss, bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca. While the album is not entirely samba, several of its highlights are, starting with the congenial title song (on which Figueiredo adds a wordless vocal), the vintage "Samba pra Bonfa" and the graceful "Ipanema Dream." Elsewhere, the group wrests as much color and variety as it can from the various Latin rhythms, even though Kriss solos only on "I Love Samba" and is not audible on any other number, which means the quartet is a trio most of the way. More reinforcement from Kriss would have been welcome.

As it is, Figueiredo, Matta and Da Fonseca are as focused and steady as can be on every number, all of which, the liners say, were composed by Figueiredo. The closing theme, "Random," is described by the leader as an exercise in "totally free" improvisation, which, as it turns out, does not stray far from the group's usual comfort zone. In other words, close to typical Latin jazz with a free-standing edge. Before that, Figueiredo and his mates nod to the Big Apple ("Echoes of Manhattan"), share the distinctive rhythms of northeastern Brazil ("Baiaozinho") and show that the music of various spheres more often than not shares a common bond ("African Soul").

Fans of Latin jazz in general and the samba in particular should find much to savor and appreciate on I Love Samba, as Figueiredo's impressive trio redeems that love with interest. This is handsome and radiant music, lovingly embraced by three masters of the genre.