Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Adriano Santos Quintet: In Session

Adriano Santos Quintet: In Session

By Woodrow Wilkins
May 23, 2010
View read count

To say that everybody loves Brazilian music would be too general. But clearly, the sound has a mystique, as so many have embraced it. Percussionist Adriano Santos revisits the music of several Brazilian composers with In Session.

Santos grew up in Sao Paulo and began study at the Zimbo Trio Music School at the age of 12. He continued study at Berklee College of Music in Boston and City College in New York. His professional associations include

Astrud Gilberto

vocals
1940 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Astrud Gilberto,

Romero Lubambo

guitar
b.1955

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

Eumir Deodato

keyboards
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Eumir Deodato,

John Pizzarelli

guitar
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">John Pizzarelli and

Slide Hampton

trombone
1932 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Slide Hampton.

Raul Mascaranhas' "Sabor Carioca" brings a vision of fine dining in Rio to life. The high-energy piece is led by alto saxophonist

David Binney

saxophone, alto
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">David Binney, with solid contributions from the rest of the quintet. Pianist

Helio Alves

piano
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Helio Alves solos over Santos, bassist David Ambrosio, and percussionist Dende. Near the end of the piece, Santos and Dende enjoy a brief percussive call-and-response with the rest of the band, a brief conga fanfare then setting up a drum solo.

"From the Lonely Afternoons," written by

Milton Nascimento

guitar and vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Milton Nascimento and Fernando Brant, begins softly, with percussion and piano evoking the atmosphere of an isolated beach near the jungle. As the tempo picks up, the sax takes point with a charming melody, followed by a strong solo from Alves.

Victor Assis Brasil

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Assis Brasil's "Pro Zeca" is another hard-charging selection. Riveting piano over bass and drums sets the samba mood, with Binney leading the melody and, after a quick stop, a solo that's as engaging as the rest of the song. Alves keeps the mood intact during his turn, with Ambrosio, Dende and Santos complementing the lead with strong accompaniment. Dende and Santos enjoy an extended duet before the song returns to the melody.

In Session is a prime example of why many musicians love Brazilian music. Santos' interpretations honor past performers without losing sight of his own personal stamp.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Sabor Carioca; From the Lonely Afternoons; De Ton Pra Tom; Xibaba; Contemplacao; Pro Zeca; Amphibious; Ninho Da Vespa.

Personnel

Adriano Santos Quintet

Adriano Santos: drums, percussion; David Binney: alto saxophone; Helio Alves: piano; David Ambrosio: acoustic bass; Dende: percussion.

Album information

Title: In Session | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Kingjazzad Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Ragged Atlas
< Previous

Lost In A Dream
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.