SUSAN PEREIRA & SABOR BRAZIL

TUDO AZUL

Riony Records

Susan Pereira, vocals/piano/synthesizer/percussion/composer/arranger; Vanderlei Pereira, drums/ percussion; Dario Eskenazi, piano; Mark Lambert, guitars; Kip Reed, Leo Traversa & Itaiguara, bass; Joe Cardello, shekeres; Phillip Galinsky, alfaias/Mineiro/gongué; Scott Kettner, caixa/ Mineiro/shekeres; Laura Dreyer, alto saxophone/flutes.  SPECIAL GUESTS: Claudio Roditi, trumpet; Romero Lubambo, guitar; Hendrik Meurkens, harmonica; Luis Bonilla, trombone.

This is an album of pure joy!  I am infatuated by Brazilian rhythms and music. Susan Pereira, with her infectious group, Sabor Brazil, bring us the culture and excitement of Brazilian music.  Beginning with “West End P.A.” a tune composed by Pereira, she sings wordlessly using her scat voice.

Susan Pereira is both a composer, an arranger, a percussionist and a pianist.  On top of all that talent, she is an awesome vocalist. During the familiar Brazilian samba “O Morro Nao Tem Vez” they feature the amazing trumpeter, Claudio Roditi. Darlo Eskenazi takes a bright and boisterous piano solo. Susan Pereira’s voice becomes a human horn, scatting sweetly across space. She trades fours with brilliant drummer, Vanderlei Pereira.

I could listen to this Portuguese music for hours.  It’s so melodic and always has a groove. Never mind that I cannot understand the lyrics.  I can feel the spirit of this music.  Romero Lubamo shines like a diamond during his guitar solo on their arrangement of “Feitio de Oraҫão.”  He is a special guest on this album. Susan Pereira’s soprano voice is soothing and compelling.

Birds open the tune “Baiao da Chuva.” The song title translates to “Rain Dance” and feature’s Susan Pereira on piano along with the flute of Laura Dreyer, who sings much like a Musician wren. That’s a celebrated Brazilian bird, famous for its elaborate and beautiful songs.

Pereira shows off her perfect pitch on the popular Milton Nascimento tune “Nada Sera Como Antes.”  She begins with just voice and percussion. This time, she sings in English. Sabor Brazil offers a blend of African and Brazilian rhythms in this arrangement that’s exciting.

The title song swings with Brazilian beats and horn lines that harmonically punch their voices into the air. On “Tudo Azul” Pereira shows off her energetic piano solo and, once again, the inspired Claudio Roditi is brilliantly featured on trumpet. On “Maracakim,” they use the call and response technique to draw the listener into the music.  I oblige, caught up in the swirl of their voices, a leaf in their whirlpool. I can hear and feel the African influences.

Like the striking blue cover of this album, the title tune “Tudo Azul” translates to ‘everything blue’ in English.  But I found nothing melancholy or blue about this production.  In fact, it’s a great pick-me-upper, full of percussive brightness and South American vigor. Anyone who loves Brazilian culture and music should scoop this album up!

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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