MARK WEINSTEIN - O NOSSO AMOR (2006)
Mark Weinstein - soprano, alto and bass flutes
Romero Lubambo - classical guitar
Nilson Matta - acoustic bass
Paulo Braga - drums
Guilherme Franco - percission
Jorge Silva - percussion
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 01-Bahia
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 02-Lugar Comum
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 03-Stampa 67
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 04-Falando de Amor
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 05-Frevo Camarada
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 06-O Nosso Amor
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 07-Batucada
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 08-Naquele Tempo
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 09-Marka Som
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 10-Um a Zero
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 11-Por causa de voce
Mark Weinstein O Nosso Amor (2006) 12-Capoeira
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Review by Paul J. Youngman - KJA Advocate for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET
Flutist Mark Weinstein is musically traversing the various regions of Brazil on this laid back album, O Nosso Amor recorded in 2006 on the Jazzheads record label. Not alone in his travels, an excellent group of sidemen add authenticity to the Brazilian flavours. Weinstein is joined by Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta, drummer Paulo Braga and percussionists, Guilherme Franco and Jorge Silva. The album is comprised of twelve compositions, five songs are originals and the others are Brazilian standards, written by names like, Gil, Gilberto, Barroso and Jobim. The arrangements are fine, featuring flute as the solo instrument, but sharing the musical landscape with guitar, bass and percussion. The styles are varied, from the Brazilian folk like music, choro, to the regional batucada, there are some traditional samba rhythms, as well as a good helping of the pleasant sounds of Brazilian jazz - making this a compact disc that has a great sampling of Brazilian musical culture.
The recording opens with the sweet sounds of the melodic “Bahia” a tune composed by Ary Barroso and covered by many American artists, including Coltrane. The version presented here has very little resemblance to the Coltrane version, sticking closely to the Brazilian arrangements and in the choro style. The flute is the featured instrument, with guitar maintaining the strong melodic rhythm throughout the tune. Maestro Lubambo delivers a fine guitar solo for his break, sounding very fluid and with hints of Flamenco styling he proceeds to lay down an excellent guitar solo.
The song “Samba 67” composed by bassist and co-producer, Nilson Matta is a swinging version of a samba with a jazz view point. Another original tune, written by guitarist Romero Lubambo, “Frevo Camarada,” a high spirited romp through the streets of Recife during carnival, with drummer Paulo Braga playing drums at a rapid tempo, spurring the other members of the band to burn. The song “Marka Som” written by Mark Weinstein starts off with a Brazilian party feel, the song features Weinstein’s fine flute playing for the most part, but also has a nice guitar break and a fantastic bass solo. The song “Capoeira” by percussionist Guilherme Franco, starts out with berimbau, various percussion instruments join in with the sound of the bass flute also making its presence heard and sounding of conch shell tones. The song picks up in tempo and swings to a free and easy samba style groove.
The classic Brazilian standards are performed with passion, the CD works because of the guest artists who share their spirit and culture to re-create songs that have been performed and written by some of the legends of Brazil, songs like “Lugar Comum” composed by Joao Donato, Joao Gilberto and Gilberto Gil. The Jobim songs, “Falando de Amor,” “O Nosso Amor,” and “Por Causa de Voce,” are all songs performed in a pleasing manner, with passion and plenty of Brazilian spirit. O Nosso Amor is a good entry level recording, featuring excellent musicianship, great sound and great songs to give one a taste of some of the major musical styles of Brazil.
