De Tarde, Vend o Mar
The Sound of Brazil
Instinct/Evolver
Listening to this album makes me feel like I’m stuck in a Smooth Jazz Flavors nightmare or in a romantic scene hell from one of those early ’80s “romantic comedies” – like Arthur, Author! Author!, or anything starring Jeff Goldblum. A collaboration between Japanese pop singer/songwriter Yumi Matsutoya, producer Neil Oda, bassist Luizo Maia, and Bebel Gilberto, this 1991 recording had never hit the American shores (as far as I know). If it would’ve done so in 1981, it probably would’ve been a hit. But, in 2003, it makes you wish Homeland Security would’ve stopped this bomb from crossing our border.
I do admire the work Evolver’s doing, unearthing the world’s rare gems for we ig’nint ‘Mericans. Their Afro Rock compilation is a must for any funk head out there. But this bad boy makes you realize that “rare” does not mean “classic” and that obscurity was invented for a reason.
The Sound of Brazil is a cheese factory of milquetoast lite jazz, watered-down Brazilian rhythms, and limburger sax solos. Much like Sarah Vaughn’s ill-fated collaboration with Sergio Mendes, this disc is a fusion of schlock, schlock, and schlock perfect for the Riunite on Ice crowd.
Instinct Records: http://www.instinctrecords.com/
