Monday, July 2, 2012

Carol Saboya: Belezas


Brazilian vocalist Carol Saboya, known for her clear, sweet, pitch-perfect voice, often brings a jazz interpretation to a bossa nova and MPB repertoire. Along those lines, she has just released Belezas, devoted to songs by Ivan Lins and Milton Nascimento, MPB icons who are two of Brazil's greatest composers. Nascimento's "Bola de Meia, Bola de Gude," "Tristesse," "Anima," and "Tarde," and Lins's "Velas Içadas," "Doce Presença," and "Abre Alas" are among the twelve selections, five of which include English-language lyrics. Hendrik Meurkens, a German harmonica player who has collaborated with many Brazilian musicians, is featured on "Doce Presença." Saboya's father, the keyboardist-composer Antonio Adolfo, produced and arranged the album. The backing lineup consists of Adolfo (piano), Jorge Helder (bass), Claudio Spiewak (guitar), Rafael Barata (drums and percussion) and Dave Liebman (saxophone on two tracks). While Carol has released eight albums in Brazil and Japan to date, this is her first U.S. release.