Brasilianos 3

With the other albums in this series, it was hard not to be impressed by the sheer virtuosity on offer from band leader and mandolin player Hamilton de Holanda and his top-notch Brazilian band of jazzers – even if there was sometimes a certain lack of, shall we say, soul. But perhaps because this album starts off with two tracks called ‘Saudade de Brasilia’ and ‘Saudade de Rio,’ both steeped in enjoyable melancholy, this is a more affecting album with a wider emotional range. On this album, when de Holanda does a flashy run, it comes over more as an expansive flourish rather than mere showing off. De Holanda also seems to have worked out the musical textures and dynamics more effectively between his ten-stringed mandolin and guitarist and co-composer Daniel Santiago, the harmonica by Gabriel Grossi and the sharp rhythm section.

Such an original line-up sustains sonic interest throughout, even if the prominent role of the harmonica will be grating to some ears and there are one or two lapses into Brazilian blandness (the downside of that jazzy smoothness). Nearly all instrumental, the standout track is ‘Guerra e Paz 1’ with guest vocalese from the great Milton Nascimento, where all the elements come together. Strange, therefore, that they should do another, inferior version of the tune, with no vocals, as the final track.