Here's a Bossa/Jazz summit cleverly disguised as a Brazilian Valentine - a tribute to the mastery of Antonio Carlos Jobim that could not have come along at a better time: Horta’s voice and guitar capture the full range of emotion from each of these Jobim songs, plus a handful of ‘now-classic’ originals from the Brazilian guitarist; the man who Pat Metheny calls “the Herbie Hancock of Bossa Nova guitarists”.
And with good reason. Horta's guitar play is exceptional by even Brazilian standards: his cascading style of chord play is unique; often sounding as if there are two guitars. As an arranger Horta also has the unusual ability to combine this style with a tasteful sensibility for Jobim’s characteristic ‘one note’ style of melody which allows it to stand apart from the rest of his instrument (and the ensemble) - a talent unobtainable by most other guitarists. His acoustic play here is emotionally engaging in a way that compliments Jobim's creativity with his own.
And that's just the cover of this Brazilian Valentine. Pushing the play button opens the music up to reveal this heartfelt tribute to its fullest. The song selection and ordering is near perfect, providing the tonal shadings and a variety of style and tempo that makes 'To Jobim With Love' a joy to experience.
But even a world-class guitarist and the finest of Jobim's songs aren’t enough to complete this gift - or to explain why this CD is a masterpiece of Brazilian jazz.
The explanation comes in the form of the artistic nuance created by the musicians gathered here - each personally chosen by Horta who also produced this album. He headed to the studio with a talented group: Bossa Nova's consummate drummer Paulo Braga anchors a stellar rhythm section which includes Chicago's percussion master Dede Sampaio and Sergio Brandao. Bob Mintzer's tenor sax was called in to cement the long-term love affair that Jobim's music has enjoyed with American jazz and special guest Gal Costa adds her voice to the chorus of talented Brazilian and American musicians. It’s a synergy that transcends anyone's studio 'short-list'... and our expectations.
Since Jobim's passing in 1994, there have been countless tribute albums dedicated to his memory. 'To Jobim With Love' belongs to that select handful that should be considered as rare and wonderful as the composer himself. Enjoy this album.
Other Voices:
One of the most distinctive and refined guitar stylists of the past 30 years as well as a singular interpreter of bossa nova standards, international recording artist Toninho Horta is widely regarded as the classic triple threat -- an accomplished composer, profoundly skilled instrumentalist and uncannily expressive vocalist. But on To Jobim With Love, he reveals yet another aspect of his deep musicality, that of arranger-conductor of a full orchestra of strings, brass, woodwinds and a vocal chorus.
A soul-stirring addition to his expansive discography, To Jobim With Love is a heartfelt tribute to the man whose name is synonymous with bossa nova. It features guest appearances by such renowned Brazilian musicians as vocalist and frequent Jobim collaborator Gal Costa, percussionist Manolo Badrena, drummer Paulo Braga and electric bassist Sergio Brandao along with American jazz musicians Dave Kikoski on piano, Bob Mintzer on tenor sax, Gary Peacock on acoustic bass and William Galison on harmonica.
Together they turn in alluring renditions of Jobim classics like the funky and oft-covered "Agua de Beber," the melodically memorable "Desfinado," the hauntingly romantic "If Everyone Was Like You"and the vibrant and upbeat "No More Blues" ("Chega de Saudade"), the tune that launched the bossa nova movement in Rio de Janeiro 50 years ago. Kikoski contributes potent piano solos on Jobim's "Portrait in Black and White," "Infinite Love" and "No More Blues" while harmonica ace Galison conjures up comparisons to Toots Thielemans on "Desfinado" and "Meditation" as well as two affecting Horta originals -- the upbeat and buoyantly grooving "Christiana" and the dreamy Jobim tribute, "From Ton to Tom." Saxophonist Mintzer makes solid solo contributions to the soothing "Promises I Made," the lush "If Everyone Was Like You" and the jaunty "No More Blues." Bassist Peacock, who performed with Horta and drummer Billy Higgins on a brilliant but overlooked 1993 recording on Verve, Once I Loved, offers fundamental support along with an expressive bass solo at the intro to "No More Blues."
Throughout the recording, Horta demonstrates his dazzling six-string skills and his longstanding colleague and collaborator Costa imbues three songs -- "From Ton To Tom," "No More Blues" and spare vocal-guitar duet on "Modinha" -- with her vivacious Brazilian soul. Several family members, including Luisa Schivavon Horta, Claudia Horta, Perla Horta, and Paulo Horta also take part in this sprawling production.
Recorded in New York City and in various studios throughout Brazil, To Jobim With Love stands as a crowning achievement in the career of the Belo Horizonte-born guitarist, whose lyrical, warm-toned legato flow on the instrument is often compared to Pat Metheny's. In fact, Metheny was an early advocate of Toninho's, appearing on his 1989 album Moonstone and writing the liner notes for 1990's Diamond Land (which also featured saxophonist and early Milton Nascimento collaborator, Wayne Shorter). Metheny continues to champion Horta in interviews and support his kindred spirit from Minas Gerais.
- Chicago Jazz
