MARK TONELLI

BRASILIANA

Artist Recording Collective

Mark Tonelli, guitar/composer; Guilherme Ribeiro, piano; Richard Metairon, bass; Rodrigo “Digão” Braz, drums.

This is a deeply personal artistic work for American guitarist and composer, Mark Tonelli. Surrounded by Brazilian musicians, he is living out one of his dreams.  After making thirteen trips to Brazil, from 2022 to 2025, first as a Fulbright Scholar to teach music at the Federal University of Uberlândia. In between work assignments, he returned eleven times to perform, while also soaking up the rhythm, culture and music of Brazil.

Inspired by the Brazilian culture, he began composing.  All nine of the songs offered here are original compositions, starting off with “Velha Alma” that translates to ‘old soul.’  The pretty melody dances over the chord changes and is pushed forward by the drums of Rodrigo “Digão” Braz.  However, on the improvisational parts, something odd happens.  Raphael Ferreira is featured on both tenor and soprano saxophone.  He introduces us to the melodic integrity of this song quite beautifully.  But when he begins to improvise, it just doesn’t fit with the chord changes that Mark Tonelli is playing.  It sounds as if they are reading two different music scores. What happened?

Tonelli has composed a samba, being inspired by a sincere letter his wife sent to him during their years apart.  “Minha Felicidade E Estar Com Voce” translates to “My Happiness is Being With You.”  Once again, the guitar chords don’t always accentuate or support the wonderful saxophone improvisation.  It’s surprising and unfortunate.

The composer celebrates the Institute for the Arts – “Bloco 3M” from his University days of teaching in “Bloco 3M” with this original song. The piece’s three sections symbolize the three art forms taught there, music, dance, and theatre.

Most of this music features easy listening Brazilian arrangements by Tonelli.  On a song he calls, “Twenty-One Biscuits” the quartet swings, but never seems to connect to Tonelli.  Even when he is soloing, he does not seem to become part of their swing groove. However, the drummer is brightly featured during his energized solo.  The tune itself is solid. Tonelli is a fine composer.

They close with “End of An Era,” a tender ballad that Tonelli has written, with multiple unexpected chord changes. The melody does not encourage singing along and the guitar and bass often sound as though they are playing different songs. I feel the guitarist and band leader often gets stuck playing a flurry of notes to represent a respectable improvised solo. They don’t always mesh with what the others are playing. I came away from this project puzzled.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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