SOM, SANGUE E RAÇA - DOM SALVADOR E ABOLIÇÃO

This ain't just a pioneering album recovered by the meticulous job done by drummer/researcher Charles Gavin. It is an estuary. All of the black rivers that compose the native funk/hip hop flow to it. Led by São Paulo-born pianist Salvador Silva Filho, a.k.a. Dom Salvador, Som, Sangue e Raça, from 1971 - a year after Tim Maia went national - combines Salvador's bossa nova & jazz background with the rhythm & blues background of the other members, like saxophonist Oberdã Magalhães, who would later line up Banda Black Rio. Samba, northeastern beats and even a bit of rock appear in the mix.

Prior to settling in the USA in the 70s, Dom Salvador had been the leader of the Copa Trio, backing up Elis Regina and Jorge Ben. He also lined up Rio 65 Trio with drummer Edison Machado. The 9-piece group Abolição was an alternative to the tired trio format. Each track in Som, Sangue e Raça differs from the next due to a careful fusion of assorted elements and instruments, as noticed on Hei, Você!, Folia de Reis, Moeda, Reza e Cor and Samba do Malandrinho. The richness of such combinations results in music that is way beyond pop FM tunes, which could possibly explain the fact that the album wasn't a big hit in spite of the exquisite contents. Here is its second chance. (Tárik de Souza)