CARNAVAL – The Songs Were So Beautiful, by JAZZIZ MAGAZINE US

Pianist and composer Antonio Adolfo continues his life-long love affair with the music of his native Brazil, exploring melodies, rhythms and roots that extend far beyond the bossa nova. On the self-explanatory Carnaval (The Songs Were So Beautiful), Adolfo celebrates music associated with Carnaval, diving deep into the colorful history of its rites and revels, characters and narratives. The pianist and his ensemble revive songs from the 1930s to the ’60s (and one from the ’80s), with verve and flair, bringing jazz sensibilities to music that both inspired and was inspired by jazz and reflecting a variety of regional styles. Written by Matias de Rocha and Joana Batista Ramos as an homage to a popular Carnaval club in the town of Recife, the lively “Vassourhinas,” actually dates back to 1909. Adolfo and his rhythm section of bassist Jorge Helder and drummer Rafael Barata introduce the theme and are quickly joined by the rest of the band, which boosts the tempo and brightens the mood with bright horn accents. Jubilation continues with effervescent solos from tenor saxophonist Marcelo Martins and guitarist Lula Galvão and sparkling accents from Adolfo that glint like the golden trim on a Carnaval costume.