Soema Montenegro - Passionaria - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Sons of Negus - A Palm Of Praises To The Most High 1967-1972 [COMPACT DISCS] date 07/15/2016

The music on Luciana Souza and Trio Corrente's new album, Cometa, comes from a place of love and joy. As a group, they hope to celebrate the reemergence of hope in Brazil with a collection of inspiring music highlighting the power of Brazilian song and the limitless expression of jazz.Grammy award winning vocalist and composer Luciana Souza has been a fan of the outstanding, Grammy award winning, São Paulo based piano group, Trio Corrente, since their inception. She had initially met the Trio's drummer, Edu Ribeiro, while teaching. Pianist Fabio Torres is well known as a member of guitarist Chico Pinheiro's different ensembles, while bassist Paulo Paulelli was familiar for his work with the great Rosa Passos.It was Torres who invited Souza to return to her native Brazil to collaborate and tour together in the Fall of 2022. It struck Souza immediately that they should make a recording that unites their collective love of Brazil's uplifting music and jazz.

Soprano Shudong Braamse blends vocal artistry with technical skill in her recording of Sueños de España. This treasury of Spanish art song relates stories of passionate love, broken promises, and heartfelt prayers. Braamse's performance demonstrates both an understanding of the rich Spanish culture and it's 19th-century romantic poetry. Accompanied by piano or Spanish guitar, each canción is simply focused on vocal quality - the star of the show. Braamse's voice offers a lovely, distinctive sound that warmly colors each poem and melodic line. The first song on the album, InchUn AdiosInch, describes a troubadour leaving his lover and the ancient city of Granada forever. Braamse performs the role of the troubadour, displaying the pain of abandoning one's love and ancestral home. Her wide vocal range encompasses every note in the song comfortably and naturally, from the low, brooding tones to the sweeping higher ones. This spirit is revealed throughout the album, from InchA Tus OjosInch, an homage to the eyes of one's sweetheart, to InchAve MaríaInch, a prayer to the Virgin Mary for strength and protection. In Sueños de España, Braamse communicates expressively each nuance and tone with impeccable Spanish pronunciation and a delivery that is true to her own musical strengths and the power of the stories she tells.