MINHA ALMA CANTA

While recording single tracks for songbooks produced by Almir Chediak, singer João Nogueira (1941-2000) had the idea of grouping the singles into one CD. When the sambaman from the suburbs of Rio died last June, there were 12 of them. Chediak added two other tracks in which João performed Chico Buarque songs and wrapped the project. Here is a tribute-album to some of the greatest BPM composers reviewed by one of the finest samba singers ever. Nogueira's phrasing combines syncopated malice with the tonic revolution implemented by João Gilberto. An all-star team shines in every track: Cristóvão Bastos, Leandro Braga and Azymuth member José Roberto Bertrami (pianos), Marco Pereira, Neco, Jorge Simas, Lula Galvão, João Lyra (acoustic guitars), Adriano Giffoni, Jorge Helder, Luis Alves, Ricardo do Canto (double basses), Robertinho Silva, Paulo Braga (drums), Mingo Araujo, Jorginho, Zero, Ovidio (percussion), Vittor Santos (trombone), Carlos Malta, Paulinho Trompete(baritone sax), Zé Carlos (sax), Luciana Rabello (cavaquinho) and Pedro Amorim (bandolim).

Although he seems comfortable interpreting slower tunes like Demais (Jobim/Aloísio de Oliveira), Nogueira really masters the broken cadence of the rhythm. Check these out: Samba do Grande Amor, Homenagem ao Malandro and Feijoada Completa (Chico Buarque), Nego Maluco (Edu Lobo/ Chico Buarque), Lá Vem a Baiana and Vestido de Bolero (Dorival Caymmi) and Teleco-Teco (Vinicius de Moraes). Not to mention his immense identification with Noel Rosa in Não Tem Tradução and Conversa de Botequim. As moving as the premature death of the imperative artists that was João Nogueira. (Tárik de Souza)