"This album sparkles with joy and innovation. His arrangements mirror a panoply of Brazilian musical styles including samba, baião, bossa, Partido, alto, the quadrilha rhythm, toada, calango, maracatu and more. However, Adolfo's elegant arrangements and harmonic concepts easily fit into the jazz tradition and support his reputation as a Brazilian jazz master. There is always a sense of romance mixed into his well-composed tunes and arrangements, along with Brazilian and Latin rhythms."
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ANTONIO ADOLFO – "OCTET AND ORIGINALS" – AAM Music
Antonio Adolfo, piano/composer/arranger; Ricardo Silveira, guitar; Jorge Helder, acoustic bass; Rafael Barata, drums/percussion; Rafael Rocha, trombone; Marcelo Martins, tenor saxophone/ flute; Danilo Sinna, alto saxophone; Jesse Sadoc, trumpet/flugelhorn.
This is the first album that Antonio Adolfo offers us ten of his own, original compositions, with not a single 'cover' tune. The multi-Latin Grammy and Grammy nominated pianist is a competent and passionate composer. I applaud his decision to finally create an entire album of his original works. In the past, I have been thoroughly entertained by Adolfo's productions tributing the work of Antonio Jobim, Milton Nascimento and Wayne Shorter, to name just a few. Antonio Adolfo's name is one that resonates with productions of culturally rich music and beautifully composed and arranged tunes that please the ear. This album is no exception. But on "Octet and Originals" you will hear eight qualified and brilliant musicians who only interpret Adolfo's compositions. This album sparkles with joy and innovation. His arrangements mirror a panoply of Brazilian musical styles including samba, baião, bossa, Partido, alto, the quadrilha rhythm, toada, calango, maracatu and more. However, Adolfo's elegant arrangements and harmonic concepts easily fit into the jazz tradition and support his reputation as a Brazilian jazz master. There is always a sense of romance mixed into his well-composed tunes and arrangements, along with Brazilian and Latin rhythms.
Opening with "Heart of Brazil" Jorge Helder sets the mood on acoustic bass, and Ricardo Silvero's guitar joins him to create a mood. I quickly fall in love with this tune. The rhythm section creates a plush mattress of sound for the horns to bounce upon. When Antonio's piano solo enters, the horns blow like curtains in a summer breeze, supportive but never intrusive. This type of attentive arranging is visible throughout. That's another thing I enjoy about Adolfo's talents, his creative attention to detail and musicality. Obviously, he is full of music. For decades he has turned out album after album and his compositions have been covered by a multitude of iconic artists like Stevie Wonder, Earl Klugh, Herb Alpert, Sergio Mends and Dionne Warwick. His breadth of creativity combines cultures and music. You hear this in his "Boogie Baião" composition that starts out very pop-ish and morphs into jazz as smooth and sweet as syrup on pancakes. The tune "Emau" reminds me of a Quincy Jones production and features Jesse Sadoc blowing excitement from the bell of his horn atop a cushion of harmonic horns and the bright brilliant drums of Rafael Barata. Every tune is memorable, and each arrangement is beautifully written and executed. "Pretty World" has one of those melodies you fall in love with and I completely understand how it became an international hit recorded by many. As a plus, Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote English lyrics to this song in 1969 for the Sergio Mendes popular group, Brazil 66 to record.
This is quality music, once again, from the legendary Brazilian talent of Antonio Adolfo.