Duduka Da Fonseca: Plays Toninho Horta

Guitarist/singer/songwriter Toninho Horta is a living legend, a leading figure of the Brazilian music scene and the focus of Plays Toninho Horta, a well-conceived tribute to a friend and fellow musician from Brazilian drum icon/Grammy nominee, Duduka Da Fonseca. With his featured Rio de Janeiro-based trio of bassist Guto Wirtti and pianist David Feldman, the veteran drummer offers a primarily gentle landscape, with light interpretations of nine Horta compositions.

"Retrato Do Gato" is an exception to the album's soft theme, embracing a fast tempo pushed along by the drummer's quick stick work. Though the music flows in a generally mellow fashion, Da Fonseca, when not on the brushes, does enjoy several solo moments throughout the session pounding the drums and splashing the cymbals in a manner that is anything but soft. An unselfish artist, Da Fonseca is more than willing to withdraw at times, offering Feldman and Wirtti extraordinary solo space. The mellow music begins right from the opening "Aqui, Oh!" continues on the following "Bicycle Ride" and reaches a high point on the cushy "Aquelas Coisas Todas."

"De Ton Pra Tom," "Waiting For Angela" and "Luisa" are three beautiful ballads that help define the album's main theme. Structured lightly and with an obvious bossa feel, the music conveys the warmth and tender side of the Brazilian flavor. Though Da Fonseca's humble homage to a wonderful Brazilian artist is both soulful and classy in every respect, the music of Plays Toninho Horta is essentially a laidback and relaxing slice of sensual Brazilian jazz, perfect for an evening setting of music and a candlelight dinner with that someone special.

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