Two Of America’s Greatest Brazilian Music Fans Reunite To Recreate.
Ritenour and Grusin return to Brasil with one of 2024’s best albums.
by Scott Adams
The news came as a surprise when I learned of Lee Ritenour’s and Dave Grusin’s plans for Brasil. And it brought a quick smile because I knew what it meant.
Honestly, the reason for my reaction is often overlooked among the well-deserved accolades from critics, even though this duo’s 1985 album Harlequin is often mentioned in their reviews.
So, let me tell you a story. It’s my story, too.
The Harlequin Connection
Have you heard of the Brazilian Wave? It’s a musical swell that rises from the heat of the tropical Atlantic off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Sometimes it arrives here as a ripple. At other times, a tsunami.
We saw it with Ary Barroso and Carmen Miranda in the 30s and with Bossa Nova in the 60s.
The waters began to stir again in the mid-80s.
Lee, Dave, and Ivan
In 1985, Brazil was three years from its first democratic elections since 1964 and Brazilian music championed the freedom cause.
Among the Brazilians leading the way was the passionate voice of Ivan Lins, who was riding high on the success of his Juntos album. It features an all-star roster from Brazil and the USA, including George Benson and Dianne Schuur.
Lee’s love of Brazilian music goes back to Milton Nascimento’s songs of the 60s and 70s. So, when Lee recorded his debut album in 1976 (First Course) he included an Antonio Carlos Jobim song. Longtime friend Dave Grusin was invited to play on that track.
Lee already knew of Lins through his Brazilian connections. Grusin went on to form GRP Records so when the calendar flipped to 1985, Harlequin’s synergy was complete. Lee explains:
“When Dave and I did Harlequin in 1985, featuring some of Ivan’s hits, I had gone to Brazil, and started to notice all these great tunes. Ivan had just taken off and walking around the streets of Rio and São Paulo you would hear a veritable soundtrack that in many cases was Ivan’s music. I suggested to Dave we should do an album of his music, and Harlequin was the result,” says Lee.
Importantly, Harlequin marks the US recording debut of Ivan Lins.
Harlequin And Me
Back then, GRP wasn’t just another record label. It was known for the superior aural quality of its recordings.
My roommate was fascinated with high-end audio components. One day, he handed the Harlequin album to me. “You’ve got to hear this new album. It’ll blow you away,” he said as he dropped the needle on his reference turntable, turning the volume up to ‘11’.
From the first note, the emotional interplay between Lins and Grusin was… overwhelming. The first minute of Harlequin quite literally changed the course of my life.
Less than two years later I was in Rio de Janeiro, preparing to interview Antonio Carlos Jobim for National Geographic. It was my first writing assignment.
Harlequin earned five Grammy nominations, winning one. It held the penultimate position on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart and welcomed untold thousands of fans to an updated and contemporary sound for Brazilian jazz.
Uniquely, Harlequin was its own Brazilian Wave. From 1985 on, a generation of talented Brazilian jazz musicians, including Leo Gandelman, Luciana Souza, Ricardo Silveira, Toninho Horta, Celia Vaz, and Marcio Montarroyos flocked to Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
So, if you’re Dave Grusin or Lee Ritenour, how do you top that?
Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin Return To Brasil
Well, you don’t.
Both are Grammy-winning, world-class artists of the highest caliber. Both enjoy stellar careers that span decades of creativity.
Lee Ritenour’s heart is never far from the music. Family ties guarantee it. Lee’s wife Carmen is Brazilian, and by birth, so is Lee’s son. Lee explains:
“Through Wesley’s contacts and input from friend and renowned guitarist Chico Pinheiro, I became aware of the many great musicians currently active there. So, I talked to Dave about going to Brazil to do a recording, states Lee:
“There were always great musicians but now there were also great studio players who could bend their style and contribute the way we used to as studio musicians in the early days of our careers. We would be challenged but also comfortable in playing with the Brazilian musicians we had invited to play on the recording.”
Two Sides Of The Same Coin
Four decades after Harlequin, Ivan Lins returns to close this creative circle with ‘Vitorioso’, sharing the lyrics with one of his on-stage singing companions, Tatiana Parra. Keep an ear on her.
Brasil also includes an original from Brazilian vocalist Celso Fonseca, with Lee’s guitar joining him on ‘Meu Samba Torta’. And Swiss-born harmonicist Grégoire Maret adds melodic warmth to Nascimento’s ‘Cravo e Canela’ and ‘ Lil’ Rock Way’.
Recorded in São Paulo, Brasil taps into sonic purity at its very best and the musicianship is exquisite. Especially on songs like ‘Canto Invierno’ and ‘Stone Flower’ where nuance dances lightly over the arrangements.
Brasil easily stands on its own as one of 2024’s best albums. If you enjoyed Harlequin, you’re sure to love Brasil.
Ritenour and Grusin. Longtime partners reunited with the sounds of Brazil.
When old friends get together in Brazil, traditions snap into place. If it’s been a week, they’ll share a chope or two. If it’s been longer, they might opt for a golden 40-year-old sipping cachaça and let the music play.
Cheers!
Brasil by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin
Tracklist
- Cravo e Canela (Clove and Cinnamon) – featuring Tatiana Parra, Grégoire Maret
- For the Palms – featuring Grégoire Maret
- Catavento
- Vitorioso (Victorious) – featuring Ivan Lins and Tatiana Parra
- Meu Samba Torto (My Crooked Samba) – featuring Celso Fonseca
- Stone Flower – featuring Chico Pinheiro
- Boca de Siri (Keep a Secret) – featuring Chico Pinheiro
- Lil’ Rock Way – featuring Grégoire Maret
- Canto Invierno (Winter song)
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Ritenour and Grusin Return To Brasil
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