Brazilian Music

  Though Monica Salmaso is listed as a pop vocalist in her native Brazil, her latest IAIA reveals a very serious, studied side to her singing.

 In America we think of pop singers as being like Britney Spears: all froth and fun. Monica Salmaso, on the other hand, has as much musical training as any jazz vocalist.

 Many of the tunes on IAIA go back to before the bossa nova era, so in some ways IAIA is folklyrico meets a classical approach with hints of avant jazz music: dance music this is not.

 Monica Salmaso has a very precise, very Brazilian way of singing.  Is she really the greatest vocalist in Brazil today? Many people think so. Personally we prefer more earthy singers like Margareth Menezes, but Margareth isn't in the same class as Monica technically.

 Monica's voice is so smooth and so precise, it's truly amazing. She's billed as Brazil's best 'recital' singer - I don't doubt it.

 An all-new style? An 'unplugged' album by famous artists? A Bossa Nova throwback album?

 ACOUSTIC BRAZIL is all of that and none of that: there are some world-famous artists here like Gal Costa, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso and Paulinho Da Viola as well as many artists little known outside of Brazil.

 Much of the music might be described as after-hours samba, while some is in the bossa nova style (which is, after 50 years, hardly 'nova' or new anymore).

 Marcio Faraco sings a lovely tune which will remind most Americans of folk rock; especially Simon & Garfunkel. Teresa Cristina does a real throwback style of samba which begins like a pre-World War II samba or nuevo acoustic mandolin group, then gets totally classic - terrific stuff.

 Rita Ribero is considered a star of MPB (popular Brazilian music): one expect electric guitars, drums and horns; not acoustic mandolin-like sounds.

 It's not fair to pick out a few cuts for special attention: the whole of ACOUSTIC BRAZIL is great - we can't wait for Volumes II and III!