40 years after Harelquin, Brazilian jazz fans get an epic reunion
Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin’s review roundup for Brasil gathers top reviewers’ opinions and comments on their new Brazilian Jazz album.
Introduction: Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin – Brasil Review Roundup
The 60s generation came to Brazilian jazz via Jobim, Mendes, and Getz. Twenty years later, Grusin and Ritenour’s Harlequin did the same for a new generation of fans. Now, Ritenour and Grusin’s Brasil delivers one of the most anticipated sequels in four decades by reuniting with Ivan Lins.
Read Connect Brazil’s complete review for Brasil here and explore the thoughts and insights of several top music reviewers, below.
Read Quotes From Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin – Brasil Review Roundup
Thierry De Clemensat | Paris Move
“Meeting of two jazz giants: Guitarist Lee Ritenour and keyboardist Dave Grusin take us
on a luxurious Brazilian journey.“
For those unfamiliar with contemporary jazz, here’s a brief introduction to the two main artists on this album.
Lee Ritenour, a 68-year-old guitarist, has explored all avenues of jazz and world music. He is also a member of the famous group Fourplay. Brasil is a showcase of the unique talents of two of the most successful and influential musicians of their generation. Their friendship and collaboration have led to numerous projects on Dave’s albums and films, Lee’s records, and years of touring together on major stages.
The result is particularly convincing. The compositions are often complex, adhering to the codes and values of both jazz and Brazilian music, featuring incredible arrangements and beautiful vocal parts.
“When I first heard ‘Meu Samba Torto’ by Celso Fonseca, a composer, singer, and guitarist, I fell in love with the song,” says Lee. “I knew it would be a great piece for us with Celso. It’s a very hypnotic song that we had to slip into, and it turned out fantastic!” Dave adds, “The melody was very interesting, almost like a survivor of the Brazilian music tradition – bossa nova – from which we have never strayed.”
After several listens, the joy these artists had working together continues to shine through. Ritenour and Grusin have left an indelible mark on the music industry. Naturally, we have fallen under the spell of this album and can only recommend it, placing it rightfully among our “Essentials”!
- Tap or click the link to read the complete review at Paris Move.
Edward Blanco | All About Jazz
“The musical partnership of Ritenour and Grusin once again proves successful and
very special on the charming Brasil.“
Thanks to Ritenour’s Brazilian wife Carmen, who was influential in recommending the project, and to the many outstanding Brazilian players who grace the album. Though the repertoire contains two Ritenour originals and one from Grusin, the producers draw on such Brazilian composers as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Celso Fonseca, and Ivan Lins for the majority of the songs, which were recorded in São Paulo, Brazil. The music is mellow and breezy, a nice mixture of instrumentals and vocals, the latter provided by Tatiana Parra, Fonseca, and Lins.
[Brasil] springs to life on the opening bossa, ‘Cravo E Canela’ (Clove and Cinnamon), which features vocals from Parra and background harmonica from Maret, along with Ritenour’s guitar, all making for an upbeat perky beginning. The original Ritenour piece “For the Palms” features Maret with some solo moments, later joined by delicate additions from the guitarist and pianist. Nascimento’s ‘Catavento’ brings percussionist Costa to the fore on the introduction and throughout the track accompanied by Grusin on keyboards on a wakeup tune.
The last two tracks, ‘Lil’ Rock Way’ and ‘Canto Inverno’ (Winter Song), are originals from Ritenour and Grusin respectively, featuring Maret’s harmonica on the first, then saving the spotlight for both co-leaders on the brief but lush final winter piece.
- Tap or click the link to read Blanco’s complete review at All About Jazz.
Angel Romero | World Music Central
“A captivating, exquisite, and accessible exploration of contemporary Brazilian
music.”
On Brasil, you will find a fantastic mix of elegant and masterful contemporary jazz skillfully intertwined with irresistible Brazilian rhythms together with warm, sultry, and engaging vocals.
One standout track on the album is their performance of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s classic, “Stone Flower,” chosen for its progressive nature and popularity among jazz musicians and rock musicians like Carlos Santana as well. Ritenour, alongside renowned guitarist Chico Pinheiro, delivers an extraordinary rendition of the timeless piece.
Ritenour and Grusin, whose partnership spans decades, have left an indelible mark on the American jazz scene. From their early days performing at venues like the famed Baked Potato in Los Angeles to collaborating on various projects, their enduring friendship and musical synergy have been evident. With Brasil, they demonstrate their continued relevance and ability to connect with contemporary audiences.
- Tap or click the link to read the complete review at World Music Central.
more quotes From Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin – Brasil Review Roundup
Marc Myers | JazzWax
“What I love about this album is that Ritenour’s and Grusin’s distinct instrumental sounds remained intact. You know it’s them.”
Recorded in São Paulo, Brazil, Brasil turns to the bossa nova, gentle samba, and a range of other rhythms combined with a hushed, jazzy spin. The album features… special guests including vocalist-composer Ivan Lins, harmonica player Grégoire Maret, and guitarist Chico Pinheiro.
What I love about this album is that Ritenour’s and Grusin’s distinct instrumental sounds remained intact. Listening to the album, you know it’s them. They simply are placed in a Brazilian setting, which allows them to add young local musicians who have the authentic Brazilian flavor. The shift clearly was a great move, considering how surfy the music sounds. Perfect timing given the high temperatures across the country of late.
I also love the album’s quiet demeanor. Overall, it has the sound of calm water washing up on the sand at night and then receding. The vocals are similarly serene.
- Tap or click the link to read Myers’s complete review at JazzWax.
George W. Harris | Jazz Weekly
“They’ve made a career of creating beautiful music both apart and together.”
Guitarist Lee Ritenour reunites with pianist-keyboardist Dave Grusin for another gorgeous collection of Brazilia. This time, they employ Ebu Ribeiro/dr, Bruno Migotto/b, Marcelo Costa/perc, and some guests for an album that is both artistic and enchanting.
On acoustic strings and supported by tasty percussion, Ritenour dances on the graceful ‘Catavento’, while Grusin’s keys are suave on the lush ‘Canto Invierno’. Gregoire Maret brings in his blue harmonica for a soft landing on ‘For The Palms’ and the laid-back ‘Lil’ Rock Way’, with the sweet Tatiana Parra joining in for a bouncy ‘Cravo E Canela’.
Parra and Ivan Lins sound like vintage Regina and Jobim on the lush ‘Vitoriosa’ and Celso Fonseca takes the male lead for a cozy ‘Meu Samba Torto’. The team snaps with Chico Pinheiro during ‘Boca De Siri;, with the entire album overflowing with joy.
- Tap or click the link to read the complete review at Jazz Weekly.
John Adcock | Jazz Journal [Paywall]
“The West Coast guitar and keyboard legends reflect the cooler, more lyrical aspect of their inspiration rather than the frenzy of carnival.”
Jazz veterans and long-time friends and collaborators Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin return to the music of Brazil, half a century after it first inspired them. Recorded in São Paulo, Ritenour and Grusin are accompanied by some of Brazil’s finest young musicians.
Swiss-born harmonica player Grégoire Maret also performs on the album, adding a tinge of melancholy to the gently swinging rhythms and harmonies. In addition, vocalist and composer Ivan Lins, who worked with Ritenour and Grusin on their 1986 Grammy-winning album Harlequin, also joins the list of colleagues involved.
- Tap or click the link to read Adcock’s complete review at Jazz Journal. [Paywall]
Thom Jurek | Allmusic
“One of the more compelling intersections of music and culture thus far in the 21st
century.”
Pianist Dave Grusin and guitarist Lee Ritenour are longtime collaborators who have worked together, periodically, for 50 years. In 1985, they released Harlequin, a collection inspired by Brazilian popular music, and brought Brazilian musicians to Los Angeles to record it. Brasil is a sequel appearing some 40 years later.
On ‘Vitoriosa’, Lins (who composed the song with Vitor Martins) and Parra sound dangerously similar to Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim, guided by Grusin’s keys, layered percussion, and a brushed snare.
The sultry, bumping samba ‘Boca de Siri’ was composed by Pinheiro and brother Paulo César Pinheiro. The guitarist kicks it off and sings, while Ritenour adds ballast, color, and texture atop Grusin’s layered keys, as the bassist guides the rhythm section in delivering slippery, silvery funk à la Azymuth.
Ritenour’s ‘Lil’ Rock Way’ features Maret as its primary soloist, with breezy, wordless backing vocals from Parra. Its bluesy guitar feel meets the band’s progressive bossa beats and Grusin’s lyrical chord voicings to create what is essentially a new jazz hybrid.
Brasil’s meld of styles inside such an accessible, continually grooving presentation offers listeners an organic, modern fusion without artifice or production gimmicks.
- Tap or click the link to read Jurek’s complete review at Allmusic.
Brasil by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin on Candid Records
Buy Brasil here. Available on vinyl, CD and digital.
Buy Here from Candid | Amazon | Apple Music | Spotify | Bandcamp
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Brasil by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin – Track List
- Cravo E Canela (Cloves And Cinnamon) (Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos), featuring Tatiana Parra and Grégoire Maret
- For the Palms (Lee Ritenour), featuring Grégoire Maret
- Catavento (Nascimento)
- Vitoriosa (Victorious) (Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins), featuring Ivan Lins and Tatiana Parra
- Meu Samba Torto (My Crooked Samba) (Celso Fonseca), featuring Celso Fonseca
- Stone Flower (Antonio Carlos Jobim), featuring Chico Pinheiro
- Boca De Siri (Keep A Secret) (Chico Pinheiro, Paulo Cesar Pinheiro), featuring Chico Pinheiro
- Lil Rock Way (Ritenour), featuring Grégoire Maret
- Canto Invierno (Winter Song) (Dave Grusin)
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Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin – Brasil Review Roundup
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