ANTONIO ADOLFO

LOVE COLE PORTER

AAM Records

Antonio Adolfo, piano/arranger/vocals; Lula Galvao, guitars; Jorge Helder, double bass; Rafael Barata, drums/percussion; Dada Costa, percussion; Jesse Sadoc, trumpet/flugelhorn; Danilo Sinna, alto saxophone; Marcelo Martins, tenor & soprano saxophones/flute; Rafael Rocha, trombone.

Since childhood, Antonio Adolfo says that the music of Cole Porter has been the soundtrack of his life.  He heard the composer’s popular music on the South American radio and on the record collection played at his home. Cole Porter’s music captured the ears and hearts of Brazilian people, especially in the city of Rio de Janeiro where Antonio Adolfo was born and raised. His album is a tribute to this beloved American composer.

“The music of this genius was immortalized through his unique melodies, lyrics, harmonies, and phrasing,” Adolfo explains in his press package.

He and his all-star group open with “Easy to Love” infused with the Latin rhythms of his Brazilian culture and spotlighting a jazz tenor saxophone solo by Marcelo Martins.  They continue with the familiar “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” with Lula Galvao taking an inspired solo on guitar. Antonio Adolfo lays down his piano part as a rich participant of the rhythm section, but also as a soloist who infuses the arrangement with a cha-cha-cha groove.  This danceable Latin trend continues on “I Concentrate on You” featuring the trombone of Rafael Rocha and harmonic horn lines that buoy the piece.  Adolfo embraces several Brazilian styles of music during his unique arrangements.

“I started out by experimenting with different Cole Porter tunes on the piano, trying out different styles of Brazilian music.  It took a while to bring them into my musical world and ideas,” he said.

Listening to his arrangements, you will hear Brazilian music styles like toada, ijexá, frevo, quadrilha, Partido alto, along with the more recognizable sambas and Bossa Novas.  I enjoyed listening to the trumpet of Jesse Sadoc playing atop the double bass of Jorge Helder during their arrangement of “I Love You.”  Danilo Sinna also plays a noteworthy alto saxophone solo that dances all around the melody in the sweetest way on this tune.

Antonio Adolfo’s gorgeous Latin American reharmonizations and arranging talents refreshes these tunes we all know and love.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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