CD Review: Albare, "Albare Plays Jobim Vol 2"

 

I enjoyed and reviewed Albare's last CD,  "Albare plays Jobim" a while ago.  He has now published "Albare Plays Jobim Vol 2",  and it is just as good as his first Jobim CD.  Guitarist and Composer, Albare was born in Morocco and grew up in Israel and France.  Amazingly his musical development was completely self-taught.  Albare was 14 when he first heard the music of Jobim but he waited until he was in his 60's to produce his tribute to Jobim's music.  Why the wait?, a reporter once asked him.  He started thinking about the question and first answered "I liked the music and it's Samba rhythms".  But as he thought about his quick first response,  he knew the answer was deeper than this.   "When I first started recording in the 90's, it was not Bossa Nova.  As much as my love for the music kept growing, I assumed that everything in that genre was already said and done.  As I got older, I felt a tinge of nostalgia and romance for my earlier years.  Jobim's music was clearly in the past.  So I decided that "if I was going to honor the music of my youth that I loved , I had to find my own voice".  

So glad Albare came to this decision because great music never gets old.  His sensitive Guitar playing brings new life into the wonderful music world of Antonio Carlos Jobim.

MUSICIANS: 

Albare- Co-Producer, Acoustic and Electric Guitar

Joe Chindamo- Arranger, Orchestra Conductor, Piano

Pablo Bencid- Drums (Except for Once I Loved and Dindi)

Luisto Quintero- Percussions

Ricardo Rodriquez- Bass

Phil Turcio- Co-Prodiucer, Mixing, Mastering

Guest Musicians:

Randy Brecker- Fluglehorn (On Favela and So Dance Samba)  

Nestor Turres- Flute (On Summer Samba and How Insensitive)

Antonio Sanchez- Drums (On Dindi and Once I Loved)

PLAYLIST:   

1. Dindi

2. Summer Samba

3. A Felicidade

4. So Danco Samba

5. Caminhos Cruzados

6. How Insensitive

7. Triste

8. Girl From Ipanema

9. Once I Loved

10. Favela

11. Meditation

 I have attached two beautiful and romantic "YouTube" videos for your listening  and viewing pleasure.  The first is "So Danco Samba" featuring guest artist Randy Brecker playing Flugelhorn and the second is "How Insensitive" featuring  guest artists Nestor Torres on Flute.

                                                                      "So Danco Samba"

                                                                        "How Insensitive"

         

 

CD Review: "Albare Plays Jobim" by Albare

I have a treat for all the Latin Jazz lovers!  Guitarist and Composer, Albare has released his new CD, "Albare Plays Jobim" and it is one of the best new interpretations of songs from the Jobim song book that I have experienced in quite a while.  Albare exhibits a sensitive understanding of Antonio Carlos Jobim's creative compositions and rhythms which when combined with the Samba and Jazz produce the wonderful new musical sound of the Bossa Nova genre.  Albare states " As Jobim was such an influence in my playing, I feel this album is overdue and I am now ready to express the intense beauty of these melodies to my own satisfaction".    

Albare was born in Morocco and grew up in Israel and France.  His musical development was completely self-taught.  Sadly, Albare lost his central vision faculties due to a genetic illness; his playing is completely by ear.

The musicians joining Albare on this CD are all superstars in Latin Jazz and add greatly to this award-winning new CD.  Joe Chindamo plays Piano, conducted and put the String arrangements together.  Joe's accomplishments include recording over 60 film soundtracks, 23 CDs and collaborated with James Morrison, Ray Brown, The Brecker Brothers and Olivia Newton John,   On Drums is the sensational Antonio Sanchez.  Antonio has a degree in classical Piano from the National Conservatory in Mexico and Magna Cum Laude in Jazz Studies from Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory.  He has been awarded 5 Grammy's.  If you haven't heard him play Drums before,  get ready to be musically surprised.  Ricardo "Ricky" Rodriquez is on Bass and he is also a classically trained musician who was born in Puerto Rico and then moved to New York City where is he soon began playing with revered Jazz musicians and Latin Jazz luminaries including David Sanchez Quartet, Branford Marsalis and The Arturro O' Farrell and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Players:
Albare- Guitars
Joe Chindamo- Piano, String Arrangements and Conductor 
Antonio Sanchez- Drums
Ricardo "Ricky" Rodriquez- Bass
Phil Turcio- Producer 

Playlist:
1. "One Note Samba"
2. "Corcovado"
3. "Chega De Saudade"
4. "Orfeu Negro"
5. "Desafinado"
6. "Agua de Beber"
7. "Double Rainbow"
8. "Aguas De Marco"
9.  "Wave"
10. "Brazil"

I have attached two "YouTube" videos so you can hear two songs from this CD.  The first is the opening tune on the CD, "One Note Samba".  The second one is the well-known Jobim song "Agua de Beber.