Catina DeLuna & OTMARO RUIZ

LADO B BRAZILIAN PROJECT 2

Sunnyside Records

Nearly a decade ago, this duo recorded “Lado B Brazilian Project” as an independent production.  Even though they had limited resources, they persevered with very little promotion, and their project still earned a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Arrangement, Instruments & Vocals.’ This album is a follow up to that original recording.

The first thing that captivated me about this album was that Ruiz was playing an ‘accordina.’  The Accordina is a mouth-blowing instrument with several buttons. It looks like a keyboard.  It’s a one-way system that only allows you to blow outward, not making a sound when you blow inward. It has a tone similar to an accordion.  That instrument is not often used in jazz music, so my interest was tickled.

DeLuna was born in Sao Paulo and came to America for educational purposes, getting her master’s degree in music from Northern Illinois University, then settling in Los Angeles. She was introduced to the brilliant Venezuelan pianist and composer, Otmaro Ruiz, by drum master, Peter Erskine. Catina was familiar with Otmaro’s talents and had hoped to meet and work with him.  Wish granted!  When he heard DeLuna’s charismatic vocals, Ruiz was thoroughly impressed.

Having worked with several Brazilian artists, Ruiz made an instant connection to DeLuna’s style and deep knowledge of Brazilian culture and music. Together, they began to search for classic Brazilian music, sometimes on the flip side of records, or what we used to refer to as the “B side.”  Thus, the title for this album evolved. ‘Lado B’ translates to ‘B-side.’  The result is a project full of beauty, rhythm and enchanting arrangements.

Songs like the opening tune, “Passarim” is a song about a little bird, sitting on a branch in a forest that will soon burn. The bird is encouraged to fly away and save itself, or become part of the debris left behind from life-wounds that sting and hurt the soul and heart. It compares man’s destruction of the forest to fleeting love. Catina DeLuna’s lovely soprano voice dances above the rich piano chords and the synthesizer of Otmaro Ruiz.  Background voices are harmonious in the arrangement, a sweet choir blows like the wind. DeLuna learned this piece of music as a child. She scats and sings in her native language, telling her story with passion. The words are translated in the album booklet provided.  Each is a delightful poem.

This is World Music and Jazz, blended smoothly like butter and sugar.  The artists offer us a sweet, Latin dessert that satisfies in a most delicious way.

Their amazing ensemble members are: Catina DeLuna, vocals; Otmaro Ruiz, piano/accordina/ synthesizer/percussion; Larry Koonse, guitar; Edwin Livingston & Derek Oles, bass; Edu Ribeiro, drums. SPECIAL GUESTS: Fabio Cadore, vocals; Gregory Beyer, percussion/mallets; Bob Sheppard, saxophone/ clarinet/alto flute; Bruno Mangueira, acoustic guitar; Carole Robbins, harp; Jimmy Branly, udu clay pot. BACKGROUND SINGERS: Melanie Jackson, Adrianne Duncan, Naomi Taniguchi, Catina DeLuna, Susan Marder, Roberto Montero, JP Rogers, Otmaro Ruiz, Mon David, Trio Manacá (Catina DeLuna, Natália Spadini & Marcele Berger), Roberto Montero, Felipe Fraga, Angelo Metz, Carlos Murguia & Otmaro Ruiz.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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