(Brazilian Jazz) Chico Pinheiro - Chico Pinheiro - 2005, MP3, 320 kbps

This CD has been the sound track of my life ever since I received it. This is one of a very few albums that I can listen to repeatedly, beginning to end. Chico is a monster acoustic and electric guitarist/ composer/ singer/ arranger. I love his voice, but he sings on only four of the fourteen cuts, choosing to feature other singers. The compositions are all his, 10 vocals and 4 instrumentals in a remarkable variety of styles representing the breadth of Brasilian music. It sounds brand new, but always respects the musical traditions of Brasil, jazz, and classical music.
"Tempestade" relates a traditional Bahian fisherman's lament, sung in 5/4. Luciana Alves sings the blazing samba "Se depender de mim". Pianist Fábio Torres states the melody on the up-tempo "Tema em 3". "Desfile de afoxe" is jubilant candomblé anthem featuring vocalist Tatiana Parra.
Chico lists among his influences Miles, Coltrane, Wes, Chopin, João Gilberto, Pat Matheny, Jobim, the Beatles and the old guard Brasilians, Cartola and Nelson do Cavaquinho. He honors them all with this wonderful work.
-- by James F. Burden

Chico Pinheiro - guitar, vocals
Fabio Torres, Rafael Vernet - piano
Marcelo Mariano, Paulo Paulelli, Serginho Carvalho - bass
Edu Ribeiro - drums
Armando Marcal - percussion
Paulo Sergio Santos - clarinet
Andrea Ernest Dias - flute
Joao Bosco, Luciana Alves, Tatiana Parra - additional vocals
Recorded at Estudios Sarapui in December 2004 - February 2005.