Ayom

There is always something rather inspiring about someone willing to take destiny into their own hands. That’s clearly the case here – just listen to ‘Ayom Manifesto’, one of several standout tracks on this debut, where Jabu Morales sings about her freedom as a woman to do as she pleases and search out anywhere that accepts her for who she is (Morales left her Brazilian home in Minas Gerais and resettled in Barcelona in 2011). The same song also perfectly encapsulates this project, born out of the fortunate meeting between Morales – a singer and percussionist faithful to Candomblé and Afro- Brazilian rhythms – and Italian accordionist AlbertoBecucci. Ayom are obviously rooted in Brazilian culture, but defiantly ignore borders. During ‘Ayom Manifesto’ Morales sounds like Leyla McCalla, but if she had been born in Brazil; ‘Cravo e Menta’ adopts carimbó elements and melds them perfectly with cumbia;‘Cachaça e Macarrão’ is a twisted baião the way Hermeto Pascoal might address it and ‘Baile das Catitas’ is a deft dose of forró rock’n’roll. The exotic mixture all adds up, as Morales and Becucci are joined by musicians from Angola, Greece and Italy, building on the bedrock of Brazilian musical vibrancy. This is Brazil as seen and heard from abroad. And the view is truly charming.