Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sergio Pereira: Bossa+

Sergio Pereira: Bossa+

By Edward Blanco
August 20, 2024
View read count

New York-based Brazilian guitarist/composer and vocalist

Sergio Pereira

guitar and vocals
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Sergio Pereira unveils an album of light Brazilian music on Bossa+, continuing his exploration of bossa nova, samba, choro and other Brazilian styles, melding them with an ambient classical jazz sound that is well beyond the familiar traditional music. Proud of his cultural heritage and the impact of music on his life, of the album Pereira states that "Bossa + is an album that reflects the music and sounds that come from my life experiences, influences, sounds and places." Accordingly, the album is more than a collection of beautiful music; it is a musical documentation reflecting various experiences throughout his life.

Recorded in Valencia, Spain, Pereira performs with a core Latin jazz quintet featuring Venezuelan trumpeter

Chipi Chacon

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Chipi Chacon, Cuban pianist Luis Guerra, Cuban bassist

Ariel Ramirez

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Ariel Ramirez and fellow producer and friend, Brazilian drummer

Mauricio Zottarelli

drums
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Mauricio Zottarelli. On the dreamy "One for Pat," a tribute to the great guitarist

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Metheny, Pereira records with an entirely different quintet featuring renowned Brazilian guitarist

Romero Lubambo

guitar
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Romero Lubambo, pianist

Iván Melón Lewis

" data-original-title="" title="">Iván Melón Lewis and bassist

Ivan Ruiz Machado

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivan Ruiz Machado—both hailing from Cuba—with Uruguayan drummer

José San Martín

" data-original-title="" title="">José San Martín. All appear as special guests.

The light, warm and mellow title track opens with the soft-toned flugelhorn voice of Chacon and the leader on his Raimundo acoustic guitar accompanied by Guerra on piano, beginning the album with an impressive taste of the bossa sound. The smooth-like "Sea of Love" finds the guitarist plucking the strings lightly as he sings for the first time with Chacon on the muted horn delivering several short solos on an inviting love song that goes directly to the heart.

On their only appearance on the album, except for Lubambo, the special guests play splendid back up on "One for Pat,' featuring the drummer's brushwork with wordless vocals from Pereira, an upright bass solo from Machado and showcasing the handy guitar work of Lubambo on acoustic while Pereira plays his Sadowsky electric archtop as the two trade delicious licks on the strings. The driving bossa number "Montgo" allows the trumpeter to carry the tune and melody, displaying his chops on the instrument with some high-pitch notes as Pereira alternates between electric and acoustic guitars on one of the finest tracks of the set.

Lubambo and Pereira join forces one more time on the rhythmic and lovely original "Saudades," with the leader playing the melody as the special guest delivers a gorgeous solo on this "buoyant bossa," a defining piece of the album. The music moves in a different direction with the perky and bright "Desamor," which features Pereria on vocals and every member of the band on this upbeat and groovy number.

Pereria closes the session with the Warren/Gordon standard "There Will Never Be Another You" but does so with a decidedly Brazilian arrangement, putting the final touches on an excellent recording. Sergio Pereria's Bossa+ is an outstanding recording of music. Although it only seven tracks, there are plenty of upsides and no downsides here, making it enjoyable on many fronts.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Bossa; Sea of Love; One for Pat; Montgo; Saudades; Desamor; There Will Never Be Another You.

Personnel

Sergio Pereira

guitar and vocals

Chipi Chacon

trumpet

Luis Guerra

piano

Ariel Ramirez

bass

Mauricio Zottarelli

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Romero Lubambo: guitar; Ivan Melon Lewis: piano; Ivan Ruiz Machado: bass; Jose San Martin: drums.

Album information

Title: Bossa+ | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Tough Stuff
< Previous

Olivia Trummer Trio featuring Fabriz...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.