Fueled by years of experience in the recording studios, the musicians of Toque de Prima have hit their stride with their second album. It is a meticulously recorded joyful noise that strictly adheres to the Samba rhythms throughout all 15 tracks. But, along with special guests, Joyce, Ivan Lins and Luizinho SP, the band does take detours through various other Brazilian musical landscapes along the way.
Even before Carlinhos Cordas pointed northeast by bellowing `Baiana de Salvador' towards the end of the second track, "Beira D’Agua," it’s obvious from the start of this album that one of the underlying themes of this release is the exploration of modern samba from urban regions throughout Brazil, not just the slick Carioca style.
Not only is this a talented sextet of musicians, but the group has incredible vocal chops at their command too. Three of the first four tracks on the album serve as introductions to the strongest vocalists in the band, and a wonderful trio of female background singers augments each member. These three pieces also set the production tone for the album too, as each track is lavished in a lush sound design that is surrounded by a wall of percussion, and all those voices coming together.
Cordas may be the best vocalist, but they’re all very good. However the guests on the album are on a different level, and each one brought their A-game to these sessions. Each of the four guests on the album are highly distinctive stylists who manage to directly interject their sound into this group, while the band maintain their own.
From the first staccato pick-up notes of "Briga De Casal" (the tune with Joyce) on through the jerky arrangement and the conversation at the end with the group’s bassist and vocalist Dininho, everything about the track makes up the uniqueness that is Joyce, yet the essence of the band remains.
The same applies for the songs with vocalists Zeca Pagodinho and Ivan Lins, both of who brought their own compositions to the mix. And it should be pointed out that Lins’ Bossa-tinged tune, Brasil 500, is an incredible tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim that proves that the singer’s massive talent as a composer continues to grow.
Se Tem Que Ser Sera is the kind of album that the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce should hand out to tourists as mementos of their visit to the land of the Samba. This is 21st century Brazilians Samba in all its up-tempo, feel-good, toe-tapping, body-jolting glory.
