Rodrigo Lima: Saga

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 17, 2015
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Temperatures dropped to single digits in New York today, compelling me to break out something tasty and warm: Saga, a new double-CD album by Brazilian guitarist and composer-arranger Rodrigo Lima. Produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro, the album is Lima's first as a leader and a tribute of sorts to CTI's sultry Brazilian jazz recordings of the 1970s, but with contemporary twists. Musical guests include flutist

Hubert Laws

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Hubert Laws and arranger

Don Sebesky

arranger
1937 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Sebesky as well as clarinetist

Anat Cohen

clarinet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Anat Cohen, vibraphonist?Mike Maineiri and percussionist

Sammy Figueroa

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Sammy Figueroa. Even the cover is by photographer Pete Turner, whose works adorned the wet-glossy covers of CTI's albums.

Captured on Saga is Brazil's rich tradition of simple, playful melodies matured with a cocktail shaker of intricate and seductive rhythms. Among the gorgeous Lima originals are Flying Waltz, with Laws and Hugo Fattoruso on Fender Rhodes, arranged and conducted by Sebesky. Even more potent��and my favorite track��is the hypnotic Altinho, with Lima arranging and playing a wide range of guitars. There also are two Fender Rhodes��Fattoruso on right speaker and Lulu Martin on the left. The bassist Sergio Barroso, the drummer Cesar Machado and other percussionists lay down a lush underbrush.

As the liners note, Saga features a range of Brazilian rhythms: choro (on Anat��s Song), bai?o (on Brasileir?o), samba (on Samba da Mistura) and bossa nova (on Altinho). There's also a fusion piece (?nima 2) plus two tunes composed by Hermeto Pascoal. On?Palinha Do Vinho, one of Pascoal's works, two ethereal vocalists are heard on two different speaker channels. On the left is Ithamara Koorax and on the right is Aline Morena. [Photo above, from left, of Aline Morena, Ithamara Koorax, Hermeto Pascoal and Rodrigo Lima by Arnaldo DeSouteiro]

On Brahms, Lima and Arnaldo turn? the classical composer's Symphony 3 into a 20:44 classical jazz-samba? fusion work.?Porta Aflora is another beautiful original by Lima and Pedro Rocha, with a rich vocal by Lima, who shows off his deep technique on acoustic guitar. Lima and Joao Cavalcanti's Samba da Mistura packs mystery and a swapping of minor and major releases with Frank Herzberg's samba-driven electric bass underneath and Fattoruso on harpsichord, which provides a touch of '60s Rio feel. [Photo above of Hugo Fattoruso, left, and Arnaldo DeSouteiro by Patricia Balaban]

Saga is an astonishing first release by Lima showcasing extraordinary musicianship and sweeping passion. I can't wait to tell Creed Taylor.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find Rodrigo Lima's Saga here.

JazzWax clip: Here's Flying Waltz, featuring Rodrigo Lima on guitar and Hubert Laws on flute: Flying Waltz

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