Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mario Adnet: Um Olhar Sobre Villa-Lobos

Mario Adnet: Um Olhar Sobre Villa-Lobos

By James Nadal
August 17, 2013
View read count

The music of Brazil is generalized with sambas and bossa novas and visualized by the colorful carnivals the country is so famous for. But Brazilian music also has a sophisticated presence, traced back to the influential composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) and his prolific compositions known for melding indigenous and folkloric songs and rhythms with European classical music. Mario Adnet, award winning composer, producer and arranger—recognized for his enduring association with

Moacir Santos

composer / conductor
1926 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Moacir Santos and

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim- went back to his Villa-Lobos roots and revisited the music of the maestro on Um Olhar Sobre Villa-Lobos.

The core of Villa-Lobos work, the famous "Bachianas Brasileiras" are well represented and rearranged with added lyrics by various Brazilian poets, and Adnet brought in specialized vocalists for each track, thus giving them an individual coloring. "Trenzinho Do Caipira," and "Caic�� Aria," feature bossa nova singer Edu Lobos, and the revered

Milton Nascimento

guitar and vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Milton Nascimento sings "Aria."

The Villa-Lobos series Choros—based on a popular country dance—were written about specific areas of the Brazil wilderness, and Adnet utilizes sparseness in "Makurka Choro," to convey a quiet natural setting. In the process of renovation, Adnet painstakingly deconstructed many of the orchestral pieces and specifically the piano parts for many of the selections, all the while maintaining the integrity and essence of the originals. A special mention of commendation for the twenty five piece string Orquestra De Cordas which provides superb melodic accompaniment for the brass and woodwinds, and a dynamic rhythmic impetus so vital in these compositions.

This was obviously a major undertaking for Adnet, who is immensely qualified to pull off such a production. Having selected and directed the musicians personally, he injected a lot of himself into the project and had the vision to see it come to light. It not only represents his respect for the work of the esteemed composer, but stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Heitor Villa-Lobos in the musical history of Brazil.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

A Menina Das Nuvens; danca; Realejo; Caboclinha; Trenzinho Do Caipira; Ondulando; Tristorosa; Abril; Aria; Mazurka Choro; Cancao De Cristal; Improviso No. 7; Caic�� Aria; Estrela E Lua Nova.

Personnel

Mario Adnet

Mario Adnet: guitar, arranger, producer, vocals (3, 7, 14); Marcos Nimrichter: piano; Guto Wirtti: acoustic bass (1, 4, 6, 12, 14); Jorge Helder: acoustic bass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13); Teco Cardoso: flutes; Igor Carvalho: clarinet; Marcelo Martins: tenor saxophone; Henrique Band: baritone saxophone; Aquiles Moraes: trumpet; Everson Moraes: trombone; Jurim Moreira: drums; Lioubov Klevtsova: harp; Monica Salmaso: vocal (2, 13); Muiza Adnet: vocal (3, 8); Edu Lobo: vocal (5, 13); Paula Santoro: vocal (7, 11); Milton Nascimento: vocal (9); Yamandu Costa: guitar (10, 14); Orquestra de Cordas: string orchestra (all selections).

Album information

Title: Um Olhar Sobre Villa-Lobos | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Boranda

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Ras Moshe: Outsight
< Previous

Etienne Charles: Creole Soul
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.