“For his Cole Porter set, he wrote swinging arrangements for his four-horn tentet, and clearly had a fun time playing and recording some of his long-time favorites. The rhythm section is tasteful, and Adolfo’s melodic solos are always pleasing. The music on Love Cole Porter is essentially straight ahead jazz with a Brazilian tinge. It is one of many easily recommended Antonio Adolfo albums.”
Antonio Adolfo
Love Cole Porter
(AAM Music)
Pianist Antonio Adolfo grew up in his native Brazil enjoying the songs of Cole Porter. So did Antonio Carlos Jobim, who considered Porter and George Gershwin to be among his inspirations in the formation of bossa-nova. As Jobim realized early on when he recorded a few of his songs, Porter’s music is easily adapted to bossa-nova and Brazilian music.
Antonio Adolfo, who is now 77, has been making significant music in his native Brazil for 60 years, recording many albums including tributes to Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento, and Jobim. For his Cole Porter set, he chose ten well-known songs, wrote swinging arrangements for his four-horn tentet, and clearly had a fun time playing and recording some of his long-time favorites.
The musicians in Adolfo’s group are all top-notch. There is plenty of solo space for trumpeter Jesse Sadoc (blazing on “Just One Of Those Things”), trombonist Rafael Rocha, altoist Danillo Sinna (who recalls Phil Woods at times), tenor-saxophonist Marcelo Martins (including playing soprano on one song and taking an excellent flute solo on “I Concentrate On You”), and guitarist Lula Galvoa. The rhythm section (which includes two percussionists on six of the songs) is tasteful and Adolfo’s melodic solos are always pleasing.
The music on Love Cole Porter is essentially straight ahead jazz with a Brazilian tinge. It is one of many easily recommended Antonio Adolfo albums; it is available from www.aammusic.com.