Scott Feiner & Pandeiro Jazz at Zinc Bar

Scott Feiner & Pandeiro Jazz
Zinc Bar
New York, NY
August 30, 2013

At a rare New York City performance, Rio de Janeiro-based pandeiro player Scott Feiner showcased a set of solely original material from his upcoming independent release A View From Below. Backed by a trio rounded out by Vitor Gonçalves (keys) and Guilherme Monteiro (guitar), he kicked things off with the title track, a fast-paced tune that blended his Brazilian and American jazz influences.
After performing with various ensembles and lineups over the years, Feiner has found the ideal format for his Pandeiro Jazz project. Using just keyboards and guitar has given him more empty spaces to explore with the unique sound of his instrument. At his New York performance, the chemistry of the three musicians was quite evident. For instance, Monteiro (who participated on the recording of the album) responded to the bandleader's grooves with a percussive feel to his guitar, while Gonçalves captured the feeling of the songs quite effectively. This was especially noticeable on "O Forno," an original tune Feiner said was inspired by the heat of his Rio de Janeiro apartment during summer.
Feiner struck his pandeiro in a manner that took the instrument out of Brazil and more into jazz territory, but the growing influence of composers like Jorge Ben and Chico Buarque were quite evident—"Jasmine," for example, combined funk with a samba-like groove, while "Raro Momento" adopted a more structured, slower tempo with a lot of opportunities for improvisation.