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She was backed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and I have rarely been in the presence of such beautiful, moving - in more ways than one -- music. In addition, she's backed on several tracks by Walter Santos, her father, less-known here, and gives us several songs he co-wrote with her mother, Tereza Souza.I was lucky enough to recently catch her performance here, in Wilmington. She also explores widely the music of her homeland, from the very well-known, at least to American ears, Antonio Carlos Jobim: doing his "Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce," and "As Prias Desertas,"to composers and lyricists lesser-known here.
Souza, from Sao Paolo, Brazil, is descended from a musical family known as bossa nova innovators. The artist has also been getting increasingly better known recently: her work on Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters, won her a 2008 Grammy, and she wowed audiences in an engagement at Brooklyn's BAM (the Brooklyn Academy of Music), with Paul Simon. Luciana Souza's "Brazilian Duos," would have to be considered Latin jazz at its silkiest and most beautiful.
Three of her records, including the one at hand, have been nominated for Grammies.As has been the diva's habit, on this vividly colored record, she is backed by two outstanding Brazilian jazz practitioners, Romero Lubambo and Marco Pereira. You really want to get to know this young woman's work. She has a beautifully pliable voice, sheer aural cognac, that you might think wasn't meant for jazz, but you would be wrong.
It is ideal for jazz, at least Latin variety, Brazilian genre.
The craftsmanship of everyone involved with this album is immaculate. You would never forget it. Of all my Brazilian music (I speak Portuguese and have quite a few), this is the one that gets the most play. No drums, no backing choirs, etc. "Brazilian Duos" is Desert Island music for me.
(The deserted beaches are still waiting for the two of us. You probably won't dance to it, but it will transport you to Bahia, at sunset: "As prias desertas continuam, esperando por nos dois. If Luciana Souza were to sing for you, in your living room, this is what you would hear. This is music that you love, that you would put on with a small group of friends or maybe just your sweetheart. Depending on what you've heard, you may have to broaden your concept of Brazilian music. Its beauty, charm, humor, love, saudade. The guitarists are equally amazing. Its jazz, samba, choro, traditional, all on a personal scale.
I.e., if I were to be marooned on a desert island with only a few CDs, it would be one I would choose. It is unique, not at all formulaic. )." Luciana's voice is gorgeous, her enunciation crisp, her arrangements charming. This is intimate music, just one voice and one acoustic guitar, almost more in the way of chamber music.
Even if you don't think you like Brazilian music I would get this disc; it will win you over. I might not go so far as to compare her to Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, etc., but she's really not that much below their strata. A beautifully recorded album as well, very spare with just voice and guitar. I don't speak a word of Portuguese but Luciana I find that Souza's singing has an enormous emotional impact on me. She's a true vocal artist, gifted with a lovely voice but also with incredible technique to translate emotion into sound in a way that very few vocalists have ever done.
I highly recommend it. This is a great album for anyone wishing to hear superior guitar playing and singing. The cd has a great Latin flavor, and is relaxing, yet invigorating at the end of a hard work day.
Superb to put it lightly The combination of voice and guitar cannot be any better than when you place her voice in harmony with either of the guitarists who back her up on this album. What a voice. What great guitar accompaniment.
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