Fernando Girão: Brazil - A Tribute

Featured Artist: Fernando Girão




CD Title: Brazil - A Tribute

Year: 2009

Record Label: Numerica

Style: Brazilian Jazz / Brazilian Pop Jazz

Musicians: Ernesto
Leite (piano), Ernie Melkhen (bass), Joao Cabelira (guitars), Zeze
N’Gambi (drums), Rubem Dantas (percussion), Magoo (tambourine and
congas)


Review: I
can’t explain why Fernando Girao is not a more recognizable figure in
the brazilian music scene. I, for instance, did not know about him
until recently. Anyway I think he deserves more recognition and
this double CD Tribute to the composers of Brasil may be the one to
place him among the great interpreters of brazilian music. Fernando has
a powerful, deep voice and great feeling for this kind of music.


The arrangements and
musicians are amazing too. Ernesto Leite on piano, Ernie Melkhen on
bass, Joao Cabelira on guitars, Zeze N’Gambi on drums Rubem Dantas on
percussion and Magoo on tambourine and congas.




With one CD for Bossa
Nova and the other for Sambas, for sure you’ll find some of your
favorites songs on this tribute. This double CD includes songs by great
Brazilian composers like Tom Jobim, Ivan Lins, Chico Buarque Noel Rosa,
Vinicius de Moraes Dori Caymmi, Ary Barroso, wonderful versions of such
classics as Fotografia, Ligia, Luiza, O Pato, Agua de Beber.



On the Bossa CD Fernando
shows he can sing with feeling. Just listen to the great
interpretations of Atras da Porta, Choro Bandido and the perfect
phrasing on Luiza. His delivery is more bluesy on Ligia and So me faz
bem.


On Rio de Maio, the
nostalgic tone on Fernando’s voice makes you feel nostalgia of Rio
(brazilians call it saudade) even if you’ve never been there. A perfect
homage to Tom Jobim and to Rio de Janeiro.



The definitive version
of Essa mulher and Retrato em Branco e Preto are the ones by the great
Elis Regina, but Fernando’s interpretation are some of the best I’ve
heard by a male vocalist.



As good as the Bossa CD
is, on the Samba CD Fernando really shows how talented he is. Fernando
is a master of scat and use it all trough this CD.Can’t help yourself
but smile listening to some of the scats Fernando improvise on songs
like Agua de Beber, Soberana Rosa, Samba da minha terra and Marinheiro
so.


For those unfamiliar with the term, scat is a vocal improvisation used in
Jazz, first done by Louis Armstrong. Ella Fitzgerald was also a scat
virtuoso. One can tell Fernando is enjoying himself and having fun with
the melodies. And I’m sure you’re going to enjoy listening to
Fernando’s interpretations of these beautiful songs.


Tracks: Atras
da Porta, Choro Bandido, Rio de Maio, Retrato em Branco e Preto, Essa
Mulher, As Pastorinhas, Luiza, Ligia, Fotografia, Só me fez bem, Samba
da Minha Terra, O Ronco da Cuica, Só danço Samba, E com esse que eu
vou, Incompatibilidade de Genios, Aló Aló Marciano, O Pato, Na Baixa do
Sapateiro, Marinheiro Só, So tinha de ser com Vocé, Agua de Beber,
Soberana Rosa, Louvaçao aos Mestres


Record Label Website: http://www.numerica-multimedia.pt



Artist's Website: http://www.fernandogirao.net



Reviewed by:

Wilbert Sostre