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Ricardo Peixoto: scary beautiful
ByPeixoto (pronounced pay-sho-to), Brazilian by birth and now residing in L.A., gives us his thirdand bestrecording to date as leader. As one might expect of a player from such a rich musical and cultural landscape, the effort is lush with vivid and exotic Brazilian (and other) rhythms, deeply probing melodies, marvelous orchestrations and much passion. It is a near-hour of pure aural joy.
The ten tracksall Peixoto originalsare exotic in terms of their rhythmic, melodic and harmonic soundscapes. Yet each is approachable and seductive in appeal. For example, the opener, "Circles," is a dance-like up-tempo melody with Peixoto and soprano saxophonist Pete McCandless doubling, and each exploring inventively. The darker/lighter energetic "Santos e Demônios" is a brilliant "battle" where the arrangement and orchestration are perfection. The incorporation of strings with woodwinds and guitar is superb on "Scary Beautiful." "Nerieds," brief and beautiful, is a haunting, cinematic track in which voice, flute, cello and accordion spook. The contemporary upbeat samba, "Morro da Paixão" adds horns (and a terrific flugelhorn solo by Jessé Sadoc) in Luiz Brazil's sophisticated arrangement.
Throughout the session, Peixoto demonstrates that he has tremendous classical and jazz guitar chops and also that he's been influenced by the legendary Pat Metheny (a teacher/mentor of Peixoto's at Berklee). Peixoto's solos are invigorating, superbly configured, and mesh beautifully with the textures around and below him (e.g. "Morro da Paixão,"). There's plenty of restrained and exhibited passion in Peixoto's playing. He is no show-off, but he shows and knows beautyfor example, on the expressive duet with pianist Marcus Silva on "Simpática" and the beautiful yearning ballad "Pixinguinga," a tribute to two legendary Brazilian composers.
While respecting them, Peixoto steers clear of more familiar bossa nova grooves, the exception being "Velha Amizade," a terrific composition which warrants a lyric. This is classic, traditional Brazilian fare contemporized and performed with zest by outstanding musicians across the board.
Scary Beautiful is an escape to an enchanted place where the mind can expand and embrace musical visions. It is a superior effort, as sweet as they come. And, as they say in Brazil, "Indescritivalmente deliciosio!"
Track Listing
Circles; Santos e Demônios; Scary Beautiful; Nerieds; Morro da Paixão; Simpática; Pixinguinga; Velha Amizade; Nocturna; Baião de Três.
Personnel
Ricardo Peixoto
guitarRicardo Peixoto: 7-string acoustic and electric guitars; Ken Cook: piano; Marcus Silva: piano; Cliff hugo: bass; Scott Thompson: bass; Aaron Germain: bass: Rafael Barata: drums; Kendrik Freeman: drums; Mike Shapiro: drums; Bob Afifi: flute; Paul McCandless: soprano sax; Harvey Wainapel: clarinet and bass clarinet; Jessé Sadoc: flugelhorn; Marcelo Martins: tenor sax; Aldivas Ayres: trombone; Paul Hanson: bassoon; Kyle Bruckman: oboe; Rob Reich: accordion; Luiz Brasil: tenor guitar and percussion; John Santos: percussion; Brian Rice: percussion; Ricardo Guerra: percussion; Bernardo Bessler: violin; Priscila Plata Rato: violin; Marie Christine Bessler: viola; Marcus Ribeiro de Oliveira: cello; Claudia Villela: voice.
Album information
Title: scary beautiful | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Self Produced
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