CD Review: Antonio Adolfo & Orquesta Atlántica - Encontros

CD Review: Antonio Adolfo & Orquesta Atlántica - Encontros

I've been following the career of brazilian pianist and composer Antonio Adolfo for quite some time, and is nice to know he is finally getting the recognition he deserved as one of the great composers coming out of Brasil.

Antonio latest album Encontros is without a doubt, one of the best recordings of 2018. Encontros is a collection of some of the best old and new compositions by Antonio Adolfo, except for 'Milestones' (Miles Davis), wonderfully arranged and played by the big band Orquesta Atlántica.

The amazing musicians of the Orquesta Atlántica are; Nelson Faria, Claudio Jorge - acoustic guitars, Leo Amuedo - electric guitar, Jorge Helder - bass, Rafael Barata - drums, Ze Renato - vocals, Jesee Sadoc - trumpet and flugelhorn, Gesiel Nascimiento - trumpet, Marcelo Martins - tenor saxophone and flute, Danilo Sinna - alto saxophone and flute, Levi Chaves - baritone and soprano saxophone, Aldivas Ayres and Wanderson Cunha - trombones, Marcos Nimrichter - accordion, and Dada Costa percussion.

The album includes festive sambas like 'Partido Samba Funk', and 'Luizao' bossas like 'Saudade' and other brazilian music like the Afoxe 'Africa Bahía Brasil'. Afoxe is a music style that comes the African-Brazilian candomblé religion.

The arrangements of trumpeter Jesse Sadoc and saxophonist Marcelo Martins, provided every member of the orchestra for moment to shine with excellent improvisations; guitarist Leo Amuedo on 'Pentatónica', valve trombonist Serginho on 'Luizao', accordionist Marcos Nimrichter on Miles Davis' Milestones and alto saxophonist Danilo Sinna on 'Africa Bahía Brasil'. 

Sadoc (Partido Samba Funk, Capoeira Ya) and Martins (Atlántica, Sa Marina), also added amazing solos. Percussion is essential in brazilian music and Master Percussionist Dada Costa did a wonderful job through the whole album.

Of course, Antonio Adolfo sublime piano can also be appreciated all throughout Encontros, especially on tracks like 'Atlántica' and his bluesy phrasing on 'Capoeira Ya'.

The last track of the album is an old Antonio Adolfo composition I first heard in the beautiful voice of Antonio's daughter Carol Saboya, arranged here for a big band by trumpeter Jesee Sadoc.