Here’s a CD that’s an absolute joy to listen to. It’s been a personal favorite of mine since the very first time I heard it more than two decades ago.
The occasion was my initiation to Brazil which began with the planning of that first trip to Rio: Enthusiastically reading every travel book I could get my hands on and when it came to Brazilian music I dove right in - searching every music store I’d come across, looking for the next album to add to that small but growing collection.
And there waiting to be discovered, was Kenia. In fact, the brightly colored artwork of ‘Initial Thrill’ caught the eyes of thousands of new fans on its release while her singing captured our imagination, never to let go. This is the CD that started a trend for Brazilian music in the US – one that would later be followed by other singers like Kevyn Lettau and Basia.
What’s the key to its success? Brilliant production by Peter Drake and the effusive presence of guitarist Chuck Loeb, whose musical contributions here should not be overlooked. And then there’s the song lineup from James Taylor, Djavan, Smokey Robinson and Ricardo Bomba – simply an outstanding selection from beginning to end.
Even today, it’s easy to close your eyes and recall the magic of this debut CD and Kenia’s distinctive voice. She flooded my curiosity with images of a country half a world away and in doing so, made a lasting impression.
Scott Adams
Connectbrazil.com Publisher
