Carlos Barbosa-Lima: Mambo No. 5

The 56-year-old Carlos Barbosa-Lima is a Brazilian national treasure. He has performed and recorded widely the music of this homeland and that of the American Tin Pan Alley. Barbosa-Lima studied under Andres Segovia and Isaias Savio as a child and had his debut at 12 years old. His musical appetite is very broad and he is technically brilliant in most genres he tries. In all cases he has performed with a sensitivity and grace that is totally tasteful. My first contact with Barbosa-Lima was on his Concord release of Scott Joplin rags— Carlos Barbosa-Lima plays The Entertainer and Selected Works by Scott Joplin (Concord Concerto, 42006, 1990). His playing on this collection is absolutely divine and full of subtle surprises. His Latin accent makes the performances of these rags very personal and revelatory.

Mambo No.5, Barbosa-Lima's new release on the New York independent Khaeon World Music label, pairs the great guitarist with noted Latin Jazz bassist Eddie Gomez. The match is a very good fit. The two musicians share a deep empathy for the music they are playing and what a card of tunes it is. This disc highlights Latin popular music of the '30s, '40s, and '50s, with an emphasis on composers Ernesto Lecuona, Rafael Hernandez, and Ernesto Cordero. Barbosa-Lima performs solo and with his ensemble. The music and playing is simply intoxicating. There is little point in looking for highlights, because there are none. Music of this caliber is simply sublime.

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