Mario Adnet: Jobim Jazz – Aõ Vivo

Editor’s Pick · Album of the Month ·

For the legions of Brasilian – and international – fans who think back nostalgically to Antonio Carlos Jobim and his music, and marvel at the enormous pleasures that they continue to enjoy, here is evidence that such musical magic exists today. Not surprisingly this comes from the pen of Mario Adnet, whose re-imaginings of Jobim’s repertoire extend to four albums to date. Jobim Jazz – Aõ Vivo is the most recent of the series. Mario Adnet pays much more than just reverent attention to Jobim’s extraordinary music, which not only introduced his genius to the world, but also put Brasilian music on the world stage.

That several living Brasilian composers – Adnet (whose brilliant arranger’s pan is all over this record) included – write music that is similarly attentive to the intimate, hidden treasures implicit in composing music today is a testament to Jobim’s eternal relevance. Beyond the physical beauties, Jobim’s music and poetry together make every Brasilian musical journey an artful, utterly memorable odyssey for anyone who loves any– not simply Brasilian – music. For it is through Jobim, the world has come to visualise what it means to be a ‘Girl from Ipanema’, indeed a ‘Carioca’. Mario Adnet is similarly dutiful to the aural paintings that are drenched in the vibrations and the moods and emotions; indeed to the indomitable will and spirit of Antonio Carlos Jobim.

The CD – and, more so, its accompanying DVD – creates the environment in which the shapes, rhythms, colours and tones that inform Jobim’s work become the compelling context for the big-band spinning out of the melodic lines of this music. The overall experience of this recital, beyond its purely musical impact, draws inspiration from the process that Jobim followed for the making of his poetry and music: that is the creation of characters with their own back-story and emotional relationship not only towards other characters in his narrative, but to even incidental characters in the urban Brasilian landscape. All this is beautifully delivered in unique instrumental and, on ‘Por causa de voce’ and ‘Estrada do sol’, in vocal lines by the legendary Nana Caymmi.

The hour-plus-long musical sojourn reveals the full scope of Mario Adnet’s attention to small details and feeling for large-scale momentum. Jobim’s penchant for expressing nuanced changes in mood and emotion are captured with long-lined sweep and energy. Every Jobim musical moment is suffused with delicate or dramatic propulsion, reflecting the master’s eye for Wordsworthian imagery in all its finest detail. Such research is so completely imbued by Adnet’s arrangements that it is only a matter of time before the expertly directed ensemble plays these works with mesmerising command, bringing to life Jobim’s shimmering soundscapes with the tonal colours of Mario Adnet’s finely graded dynamic palette.

Mario Adnet – Jobim Jazz – Aõ Vivo is a 2016 Latin Grammy Awards Nominee in the Best Latin Jazz Album Category

Track List: Takatanga; Mojave; Sue Ann; Surfboard; O boto; Rancho nas nuvens; So danco samba; Wave; Tema jazz; Bonita; Paulo voo livre; Por causa de voce (part: Nana Caymmi); Estrada do sol (part: Nana Caymmi); Polo pony.

Personnel: Aquiles Moraes: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jesse Sadoc: trumpet, flugelhorn; Andrea Ernest Dias: flute, alto flute; Zé Canuto: alto saxophone; Marcelo Martins: tenor saxophone; Henrique Band: baritone saxophone; Everson Moraes: trombone; Vittor Santos: trombone; Joana Adnet: clarinet; Mario Adnet: acoustic guitar, arrangements, production; Antonia Adnet: acoustic guitar; Ricardo Silveira: electric guitar; Marcos Nimrichter: accordion, piano; Jorge Helder: acoustic bass; Jurim Moreira: drums; Rafael Barata: drums; Armando Marçal: percussion; Antonia Adnet: producer; Joana Adnet: producer; Duda Mello: engineer.

Record Label: Biscoito Fino
Year Released: August 2015
Running time: 64:18