Luciana Souza - The New Bossa Nova
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Free Music Notes for The New Bossa Nova
Free Music Review: Beautiful interpretation
Hit: 4 Stars
I love Brazilian music but, the truth be told, I especially love the classics. Among the many CDs I have of bossa nova and sambas, I tend to listen the most to the many versions I have of the same "old" stuff from Jobim, Joao Gilberto, etc. So here comes this carefully selected set of--for the most part--classic rock pieces, sang with a beautiful voice in a Brazilian style! These sound new and fresh, as if they had just been written to be played this way. And to top it all, a trip back to the classics with one of the most beautiful renditions I have heard of águas de março.
I am embarrassed to say that I did not know about Luciana Souza, but I am sure to become a fan of hers now.
Free Music Review: It's not "Neruda"; but it will do
Hit: 4 Stars
I am a big fan of Karrin Allyson and of Luciana Souza, both jazz singers who are more different than alike. But both are very alike in one respect: in 2005 Karrin tried her hand at '70's pop; and now Luciana has done the same thing with this c.d. IMO, both were/are each respective artist's weakest efforts in each's respective catalogues.
In fact, I titled my review of "Wild For You" as "It's not 'Ballads'; But It Will Do", referencing Ms. Allyson's tremendous "Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane" c.d. from 2001.
Likewise, Ms. Souza's "Neruda" was one of the best c.d.'s of 2004, and one of the best of this millenium. Hence the title of this review.
Luciana Souza has a beautiful, pure voice that will lull you into precious, alpha-wave sleep. It's difficult to imagine her putting out a c.d. that's less than 4 stars; but this is as low as it gets, IMO.
Why? I love bossa nova. But I think of the granddaddy of it all, "Getz/Gilberto." Remember the bite of Getz' sax on "So Danco Samba"? Or the dolor of Jobim's piano and Joao Gilberto on "Para Machuchar Meu Coracao"? Or the wistful longing of Astrud Gilberto on "Corcovado"?
There's just none of that here. I don't know why; but to put it simply but bluntly, none but none of this grabs me. A c.d. of Luciana Souza, produced by her husband, the legendary Larry Klein, ought to grab me from note one to note last. I've listened to this c.d. 3 or 4 times now, and the only thing that really sticks with me is James Taylor's strident harmony on his own "Never Die Young." Even the great Jobim tune, "Waters of March", doesn't get it done for me.
I'm not biased against jazz recreations of '70's pop. I loved The New York Voices' treatment of Paul Simon; and Sara Gazarek's nod to the '70's earlier this year was splendid. But riffing on the '70's is certainly no guarantee for artistic success.
I'm not giving up on Luciana Souza, by any means. But I hope she returns to projects like "Neruda." I'd rather hear her reinterpret artists like William Carlos Williams than artists like Randy Newman, any day. RC
Free Music Review: The Smooth Jazz Bossa Nova
Hit: 2 Stars
Bossa nova is the original smooth jazz,starting in '60s Brazil with luminaries such as Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto. Luciana Souza's "New Bossa Nova" isn't so much a plunge into new bossa nova,but a tribute to the old. Grammy-nominated diva Souza tackles the songs of Randy Newman,Leonard Cohen,Joni Mitchell,James Taylor,and even Sting.
"New Bossa Nova" is VAGUELY Brazilian. Occasionally you can hear it in the rhythms and Souza's lilting song stylings,but it sounds more like smooth jazz than anything you'd hear in Sao Paulo. The opening song,Joni Mitchell's "Down to you",sounds strained. Her duet with James Taylor in "Never die young" doesn't work due to irreconcilable differences. Leonard Cohen,whose songs have become status symbols among "retro with an edge" singers such as Madeleine Peyroux and Michael Buble,gets a cabaret interpretation in "Here it is." Sting's "When we dance" gets an appropriately New Agey interpretation,and Brian Wilson's "God only knows" sounds rightfully sunny. Unfortunately,the classic "Waters of March" gets a bland,lifeless version;Rosa Passos' cover version is far superior. The two original songs,"Love is for strangers" and "You and the girl" are attempts at noirish,narrative song,with lyrics such as "Did she tell you her secret?" and "longing and belonging" and "once upon a moonless night."
"New Bossa Nova" offers nothing new. It works as background music;one can imagine it playing at a Pottery Barn or Starbucks. It doesn't command the listener's attention. If you enjoy bossa nova,go for Bebel Gilberto,CeU,and Ana Rita Simonka instead. Bossa nova is a sexy,sunny style of jazz,and there's plenty to be enjoyed.
Free Music Review: The New Bossa Nova
Hit: 3 Stars
The New Bossa Nova is solid muscianship, but not as imaginative as previous recordings by Sousa. Even though the album is a selection of covers of interesting songs, it does not go far enough to explore their possibilities.Free Music Review: Luciano Souza Making Her Way
Hit: 4 Stars
Luciano Souza has quietly been making her way in the planes of the jazz and Latin music world, blending the two, collaborating with great musicians of her native Brazil and the US. The New Bossa Nova works a seam of American music with a bossa sensibility, something in reverse to the original movement which had US jazzers collaborating with Brazilian musicians on Brazilian songs. The songs are fine and the treatment fine as well. Gentle, more on the quiet side. Evening at dusk music with the light still leaking over the horizon from the sun.