Customer Rating:  
Summary: A delightful album.
Comment: Born in Brazil but based in New York, where with Arto Lindsay he spearheaded a bossa nova revival, Vinicius Cantuaria is one of bossa's more interesting exponents.
He started in the 1990's adding an electronic flavour that he had learnt from New York friends such as Laurie Anderson and David Byrne, creating one of the most impressive jazzy/world/avant-garde oeuvres around.
That is still part of his sound, but it is his simpler songs that hit hardest: particularly when he strips the music right back to the 1950's on the beautiful "Voce E Eu" (featuring Mehldau) and "Tua Cara", or displays African influences on "O Batuque".
His new album for the French Naive label, while featuring backing from heavy jazz names such as pianist Brad Mehldau, guitarist Marc Ribot, trumpeter Michael Leonhart, cellist Erik Friedlander and David Binney on sax, continues his customary approach on a mixture of post modern acoustic bossa styles.
The arrangements are transparent and understated.
As a songwriter Cantuaria has a dark, lyrical gift and there are numbers written in collaboration with Nana Vasconcelos and Angelique Kidjo : he murmurs his way through a muted, pleasingly doleful set which blends classic bossa nova with touches of the avant-garde minimalism.
"Galope" is a gorgeous, sad love song with warm vocals, fizzing guitar and plangent violin.
In tribute to Tom Jobim, the bossa's founding father, he does a version of "Vivo Sonhando" but the album covers a range of speeds and moods.
He might claim to play old-style bossa nova, but this Brazilian guitarist clearly does it with an eye on what the new generation of audiophiles want.
But you also get a real sense of adventure when he turns up the guitar and toys with feedback on the sprightly "Chuva".
Enjoy a very good listening experience.
Sol Na Cara
Horse & Fish
Silva
Mundo Civilizado
Subtle Body
Salt
Prize
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