Bruna Black: Vã Revelação

Bruna Black is yet another one of those performers who started as something other than a singer but got there as soon as she could. Supposedly, she was a semi-pro basketball player, although that is not easy to run down. She certainly is a singer and a good one. Her repertoire in this recording is all in Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, and as melodious as anything to be found. When Astrud Gilberto came on to the scene in 1964, she did "Girl from Ipanema" in English, although the Portuguese lyrics are infinitely more sensuous. Composer Joao Gilberto's second wife (?) Miúcha, Heloisa Maria Buarque de Hollanda, recorded The Best of Both Worlds ( Columbia, 1976) in both English and Portuguese, which suggests to make it in the United States market, English, perhaps, is a must.

In many ways, Bruna Black immediately reminds a listener of Miúcha, which is a compliment. The fact that she is wildly popular in Brazil and unknown in the United States must be a language thing because nothing else explains it. There are enough Hispanophones in the United States to sustain a monolingual Spanish singer. Portuguese, one suspects, is another matter. That is not a criticism. Just an observation, and perhaps an arguable one.

Vã Revelação (the original music is by John Finbury, who shares recording credit with Ms Black) is a brief recording (37 minutes) not unusual these days, but worth keeping in mind as far as a rating of the CD goes. The music is hypnotic, and the lyrics are scarcely translatable. "Vã Revelação" is either the reflection of the drowning lover or a dreamer, depending on mood. "Pérolas" (Pearls), with a pretty guitar solo by Chico Pinheiro, tells a listener that pearls are produced by an irritant, which is a bit like love (it loses something in the translation). "Para Me Entender" warns a prospective lover that the singer "has phases like the moon" and "is complicated" which is probably worth knowing well in advance. "Inverno De Nós Dos" is what remains of lost love, and wintry cold and features a singing solo by John Patitucci. "Nosso Cais" ("Our Pier") is another lover's fantasy, find me where you will. "Uma Noite Com Você" ("A Night With You") is an adult lullaby. "Romântica Calor" ("Romantic Heat") is best left to the imagination. "Será" ("What Would Happen?") is a lover's "what-if" lament. "Chāo De Nuvem" ("Floor of a Cloud") is a kind of Brazilian "Volare," albeit a bit more mystic and a lot less ecstatic. Throughout, the accompaniment is swingingly gentle, almost perfect. It is a small wonder Ms. Black is a sensation in Brazil. Romantic fantasies done so well will get someone anywhere they want.