Antonio Adolfo: Octet And Originals

Antonio Adolfo is a pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader in the Latin jazz tradition, but his music is informed by Brazilian musical styles of the samba, bossa, quadrilha and toada. This latest Adolfo release entitled Octet And Originals features all his original compositions and are played by a stellar band of musicians who have been connected with him for many years.

This ten track outing starts with "Heart Of Brazil," which is a tribute to the Amazon rain forest, which is suffering from man made devastation. Written with a catchy samba beat and a polished chart, Adolfo has created open spaces both for his own crisp piano playing, and also the inventive trombone work of Rafael Rocha. The following number "Boogie Baiäo" is a mash up of American boogie and baiäo, which is native to Northeastern Brazil. After the band lays out the theme, alto saxophonist Danilo Sinna uses his compelling tone to deliver his solo, which is picked up by Adolfo with another graceful interlude. Finally guitarist Ricardo Silveira shows his declarative touch before the band takes the number out.

Antonio Adolfo has been recognized as a Brazilian Jazz master with over two dozen albums to his credit, many of which have been nominated for Latin Grammy and Grammy awards. Many of his more than 200 original compositions have been covered by artists such as Sergio Mendes, Herb Alpert, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick. Such is the case for "Pretty World," which gained some international acclaim with an English lyric written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman for Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66. In this bossa rendition, Adolfo's piano takes the lead in stating the recognizable theme that eventually gives way to a terrific alto solo from Sinna and some standout fretboard gymnastics from Silveira.

As the album plays out, Adolfo continues on his exposé on the myriad of styles in Brazilian music such as the samba and baiäo for "Feito Em Casa" and the zabumba and baiäo for the composition "Zambumbaia." The session closes with "Modern Toada," a slower paced song from the baiäo region. The number opens with Adolfo's piano delivering some Bill Evans like flourishes (one of Adolfo's heroes) to be followed by trumpeter Jesse Sadoc showcasing his stark tone. Adolfo's Brazilian roots are clear throughout the album, but he has found the way to transform his compositions into jazz.