Sunday, June 11, 2006

Laurindo de Almeida and Bud Shank - Brazilliance Volume 1 (1953)

Laurindo de Almeida is one of those Brazilian musicians that left Brazil to an international career in US. Almost unknown in Brazil. Laurindo recorded with Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, and others getting some success when bossa nova was at its peak.

He helped introduce the Brazilian guitar to jazz and some specialists says that he was already making Bossa Nova in 1953, a couple of years before its beginning by the time Laurindo released with Bud Shank, Brazilliance Volume 1, that zecalouro proudly presents to you.

Let's ready AMG for a formal introduction to this important album:

More than seven years before Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd introduced the bossa nova of Antonio Carlos Jobim to American audiences; guitarist Laurindo Almeida and altoist Bud Shank (in a quartet with bassist Harry Babasin and drummer Roy Harte) recorded the intriguing music heard on this CD reissue. The performances are very close to bossa nova in their combination of cool-toned jazz and Brazilian rhythms; in fact, these are arguably the first bossa nova recordings, long before even Jobim and Joao Gilberto initially recorded. Only four of the 14 tunes ("Speak Low" is heard in two versions) are not based on Brazilian folk songs, and many of the songs (particularly "Carinoso") are quite memorable. This historically significant, very accessible, and highly recommended release is a gem. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide



Line-up

Laurindo Almeida
Guitar, Main Performer, Performer
Chuck Flores
Drums
Gary Peacock
Bass
Bud Shank
Sax (Alto), Performer
Harry Babasin
Bass
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousFriday, 23 June, 2006

    Com certeza esse disco apresenta uma batida pré bossa nova que mais tarde seria a base do movimento musical no brasil. Disco muito bom e bonito ao extremo. Apresenta uma sonoridade típica do jazz norte americano - sax alto - tipo charlie parker - que era onde laurindo se encontrava divulgando o seu trabalho e apresentando o violão ao jazz. speak low é muito boa e a baa-too-kee tem alguns momentos de baião. Carinhoso é magistralmente executada por laurindo. E tamnbém por bud shank. Enfim, um disco muito agradável de ouvir e altamente recomendado para se ouvir cozinhando ou pintando uma tela. De qualquer maneira, um bom exercício mental e uma ótima maneira de começar o dia....e escovando os dentes.
    Abraços

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  2. jwalkerSunday, 26 August, 2007

    I am left speechless. This album is phenomenal. So far ahead of it's time that it staggers the mind. I almost don't trust it was recorded in '53. How could this be? This 'sound' could only come post Jobim, Gilberto and Getz yet it predates their groundbreaking releases... How can I express my gratitude once again to Loronix for this outstanding historical gem? JWalker, New York

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  3. zecalouroSunday, 26 August, 2007

    Hello Guys,

    I agree 100%. This is really ahead of 1953. There is a second collaboration called Braziliance Volume 2, also breathtaking.

    Thanks for the feedback on this nice music.

    Cheers, zeca

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  4. AnonymousSunday, 27 January, 2008

    Thanks, Zeca, this great post of yours should help Laurindo Almeida and Bud Shank get some of the credit they have been shorted on, with hindsight the genius and leadership is obvious.

    Below is track list update.

    Laurindo de Almeida & Bud Shank
    Brazilliance Volume 1     (1953)
    01   Atabaque (Radamés Gnattali)
    02   Amor flamenco (Laurindo Almeida)
    03   Stairway to heaven (Matt Malneck/Mitchell Parish/Frank Signorelli)
    04   Acertate mas (Osvaldo Farres)
    05   Terra seca (Ary Barroso)
    06   Speak low (Kurt Weill/Ogden Nash)
    07   Speak low (Alternate take) (Kurt Weill/Ogden Nash)
    08   Inquietação (Ary Barroso)
    09   Baa-Too-Kee (Laurindo Almeida/Dante Varela)
    10   Carinhoso (Pixinguinha [Alfredo da Rocha Vianna]/João de Barro)
    11   Tocata (Radamés Gnattali)
    12   Hazardous (Richard Hazard)
    13   Nonô (Romualdo Peixoto)
    14   Noctambulism (Harry Babasin)
    15   Blue baião (Luiz Gonzaga/Humberto Teixeira)

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  5. AnonymousTuesday, 13 May, 2008

    Almeida/Shank´s first "Brazilliance" album has been glued to my player for years, along with Charlie Byrd trio w/Bud Shank´s "Brazilville - live at Charlie´s" (1981). There are few hints of any time between the two records, and that is not because the latter sounds outdated..! A must have for any lover of Brazilian music, or of good music in general!

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