The Whole Music Experience

World Nilson Mattas Black Orpheus Motema Music The Greek myth featuring the love story about Orpheus and Euridice has captured the attention of music and movie makers.   In 1956, the Brazilian play, Orfeu da Conceicão hit the stages and the sound track, record players.   In 1959, French filmmaker Marcel Camus released the Academy Awards-winner Black Orpheus .   And the Brazilians hadn’t their last word.   Brazilian director Carlos Diegues brought us Orfeu in 1999 (which I have seen).   And this month, Brazilian bassist Nilson Mattas pays homage to the legend-love story with his CD Black Orpheus . Featuring 16 musicians performing both original songs, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfá and Vinícius de Moraes’ samba and bossa nova classics (from the Brazilian play and French movie) and it feels like Brazilian carnival has marched into my apartment.   Equal parts romantic, and effervescent, Black Orpheus feels like a spot of sun...

Gabriel Ayala & Will Clipman Passion, Fire & Grace Canyon Records I spent the weekend fighting off a lung infection. Fortunately, Yaqui classical/flamenco guitarist Gabriel Ayala and master percussionist Will Clipman’s recording Passion, Fire & Grace arrived in my mailbox. I listened to the recording several times over the weekend, even hitting the replay button. And at times I had wished for a long-play or a double CD because I found the music here enticing, healing, and comforting. There’s nothing worse than dealing with a sickness when you’re alone, and music can often bring comfort as this recording did. The recording supplies its listeners with plenty of flamenco guitar including renditions of work by nuevo flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucìa ( Entre Los Aguas ) and a younger flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo. Most of the work here was composed by Ayala from the catchy opener Sonoran Nights to the nuevo flamenco piece Allegro that closes the CD. Native ...