Antonio Adolfo: Love Cole Porter

Love Cole Porter is pianist Antonio Adolfo's masterful tribute to the genius of Cole Porter, capturing his musical essence while infusing it with a Brazilian flair. This release is not just a tribute but a careful reimagining, bringing his timeless melodies, intricate lyrics, and sophisticated harmonies into a new light. Accompanying Adolfo is a coterie of seasoned Brazilian musicians who have been on several of his releases, including guitarist Lula Galvão, bassist Jorge Helder, drummer Rafael Barata, percussionist Dada Costa, trumpeter Jesse Sadoc, alto saxophonist Danilo Sinna, tenor saxophonist Marcelo Martins and trombonist Rafael Rocha.

Long an admirer of Porter's work, Adolfo selected a repertoire of his songs that would seamlessly blend with the Brazilian idiom beginning with "Easy To Love." Done in a samba jazz style with some tight unison playing by the band, Adolfo, Sinna and Rocha take solo turns that complement the refreshing take on the number. "I Concentrate On You" has a lovely executed bossa feel with trombonist Rocha laying out the melody. Adolfo's piano is always present, reflecting his musicality and Marcelo Martins is multi-talented, showing his flexibility with a bright flute solo.

Beginning with "I've Got You Under My Skin," followed by three consecutive tracks, are the core of this session, each of which is attached to different musical styles that are not well-represented in Brazilian jazz. In this first instance, led by Adolfo's pianistic interpretations, the band delivers a technically brilliant, emotionally resonant performance with a mashup of bossa and toada ( a simple rhythmic style). On "Just One Of Those Things." Adolfo takes two dance styles from the Brazilian northeast that are exemplified by a fast tempo that adds a layer of excitement and cohesion to the chart on which guitarist Lula Galvao shines.

"Love For Sale" follows, and here Adolfo arranged the piece to shine with a sultry samba- funk groove. The horns play a prominent role in delivering the melody, with the rhythm section propelling the number forward. Guitarist Galvao and trombonist Rocha continue to make notable contributions. "Night And Day" is one of Porter's most recognizable compositions. Adolfo's reharmonization breathes new life into the song with a lush arrangement replete with complex rhythms and lush harmonic textures. He has also chosen to insert a lengthy bass solo from Jorge Helder and then drummer Rafael Barata before rejoining the chorus.

The album closes with "You Do Something To Me." This breezy interpretation opens with Adolfo's piano stating the theme, followed by solos from alto saxophonist Danilo Senna and trombonist Rafael Rocha. The number is taken out significantly with Carnival elements in the coda. In a release that honors the legacy of Cole Porter, Adolfo has delivered a bold and beautiful new perspective.

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