GAFIEIRA RIO MIAMI

BELEZA PURA

Independent Label

The group name, ‘Gafieira Rio Miami’ is pronounced GAH-FEE-AY-RAH. They bring us the vibrant cultural beauty of Brazilian Portuguese music plucked from the 1940s to the 1960s. This was a time of ‘Honky Tonk’ establishments that were sanctuaries for free expression and the improvised music that jazz inspired.  That’s when Brazilian musicians were captivated by the big bands of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and the excitement of Dizzy Gillespie’s music. Brazilian big band jazz scenes were mostly performed in ballrooms where people could dance.

The word GAFIEIRA is not only a word for ‘Honky-Tonk’ but it also suggests samba dancers.  That incapsulates this rhythmic and melodic Brazilian music that Gafieira Rio Miami presents. They will make you get up and dance!

The host of Café Brasil, the only Florida program dedicated entirely to Brazilian music, is also the co-producer of this album. Gene de Souza is Miami’s impresario, general manager of WDNA (88.9FM). Gafieira Rio Miami brings joy and excitement into my listening room.  In cooperation with renowned Brazilian bassist Diogo Brown (the co-producer) who founded this talented and culturally rich group of musicians in 2020, the two producers created an eclectic eleven-piece band to blend Brazilian roots with jazz. The wonderful female vocalist, Isa Duarte, is featured on this recording as well as Eggy who sings background & lead vocals, and special guest Eylen Ramon, a celebrated Cuban artist.

From the very first strains of this energized and percussive music, I’m totally captivated. They open with “To Voltando” that translates to “I’m Coming Back,” composed by Mauricio Tapajos & Paulo Cesar Pinheiro.  This tune gets the musical party started. The horns blast harmonically with Isa Duarte’s vocals delivering an energized storyline.

This music wraps arms around a variety of styles like chorinho, pagode, maxixe, waltzes, sambas and tangos.  All share a commonality of invigorating rhythms, Latin grooves, and percussive brilliance. Their melodies that are both entertaining and infectious.  They even add a taste of ‘rap’ on Track #7, by Diogo Brown, added to the popular “Mas Que Nada” (No Way) featuring special guests, Tony Succar & Eylen Ramon on this familiar and melodic favorite. It will make you want to sing along with “oo bah – oo bah – oo bah.”  It features percussion master, Tony Succar, a Peruvian/American, composer, arranger, bandleader and producer.  He won two Latin Grammy Awards including 2025 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album. This arrangement also features Cuban vocalist, Eylen Ramon.

I love the flute of guest, Nestor Torres on “Jazz Samba” (So Danco Samba), and internationally applauded pianist Antonio Adolfo also makes a guest appearance.  They close this album with the high-powered vocals of special guest, Eggy on a tune called “A Volta Da Gafieira (the Return of Gafieira).  This music just plain makes me happy!

GAFIEIRA RIO MIAMI GROUP: Isa Duarte, vocals; Eggy, background & lead vocals; Diogo Brown, bass/rap; Phill Fest & Davi Mello, guitar;  Igor Souza, 7-string guitar; Tito Camargo,  Livan Mesa & Cassio Coutinho, piano; Gilmar Moraes, organ; Wesley Cosvosk, drums; Dada Costa, Hugo Luiz, Adriano Borba & Laercio Da Casta, percussion; Erick Chacon, flute; Rodolfo Madruga, Cavaco; TROMBONES: François De Lima & Joel Martinez. WOODWINDS: Ben Sparrow & Amed Torrecilla, tenor saxophone; Yalner Horta, alto saxophone; Jason Arkins, alto & tenor sax. TRUMPETS: Peter Francis, Kate Hamann & Kissis Muñoz. SPECIAL GUESTS: Roberta Sá, Yamandu Costa, Luciana Mello, Tony Succar, Antonio Adolfo, Nestor Torres & Eylen Ramon.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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