Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Fernanda Cunha: Olhos De Mar

Fernanda Cunha: Olhos De Mar

By Dan McClenaghan
September 24, 2015
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The Brazilian sounds, Samba and Bossa Nova, washed over the United States like a wave in the early sixties. American saxophonist

Stan Getz

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Getz, in his collaborations with Brazilian artists

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim and

Joao Gilberto

vocals
1931 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Joao Gilberto, on Getz/Gilberto (Verve Records, 1962) and American guitarist

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Byrd, on Jazz Samba (Verve Records, 1962) can take a good deal of the credit. The craze culminated, perhaps, with the radio hit "The Girl From Ipanema," from the Getz/Gilberto disc, featuring a lovely and dispassionate vocal by

Astrud Gilberto

vocals
1940 - 2023

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

Jobim, who was so crucial in that formation of that early wave, has been extensively covered and re-worked over the decades, but Brazilian vocalist

Fernanda Cunha

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Fernanda Cunha, on Olhos de Mar has chosen to cover previously unreleased songs by contemporary songwriters from Brazil:

Antonio Adolfo

piano
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Adolfo, Cristovao Basto, Carlinhos Vergueiro Gonzaga and more.

Cunha and the composers carry the tradition well. There is a gentleness and simplicity to the Brazilian sound. It is a music without artiface or a hint of grandstanding. Piano, guitar, bass, drums, with an emotive singer out front, and rhythms that flow like a peaceful stream.

The opening cut, "Dando Um Tempo" (composer Carlinhos Vergueiro) has a bright piano sparkle behind Cunha's forthright vocal. The title cut (composers Cristovao Bastos/Nelson Wellington) explores gorgeous ballad territory, and "Saudades De Voce," penned by Reg Schwager and Fernanda Cunha sounds sort of like an undiscovered American Standard, sung in Portugese.

An enchanting, soothing set of contemporary tunes from Brazil.

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Track Listing

Dando De Tempo; Ohlhos De Mar; AmDor E Nada Mais; Floresta Azul; Manha Mineira; Naquele Outono; Saudade De Voce; Verao; Misteriosa; Pode Ser Que Eu Fique Dessa Vez

Personnel

Fernanda Cunha

vocals

Fernanda Cunha: voice; Cristovao Bastos: piano, fender rhodes; Ze Carlos: guitar; Edson Ghilardi: drums; Jorjao Carvalho: bass.

Album information

Title: Olhos de mar | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced

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