Raiz

Raiz (Roots) is an appropriate title, in the context of Joyce Moreno's long and distinguished career. A true landmark recording, it celebrates 50 years in the business, since a shy 15-year-old first stepped into a recording studio to discover her vocation. A songwriter of some pedigree, Joyce's reputation also rests on her sensitive interpretations of the work of others, and here she revisits some of the songs that sparked her adolescent creativity. Accompanied by her acoustic guitar, piano, double bass and husband Tutty's sympathetic, unobtrusive drumming, Raiz is one of Joyce's jazziest albums in years.

Guitarist and composer Roberto Menescal prompted the young Joyce's first step into a studio, and here she reciprocates with two of Menescal's compositions, ‘O Barquinho’ and ‘Nós E O Mar’, which both feature his tasteful jazz guitar. Throughout, Joyce steers a familiar course between this kind of meditative ballad and jaunty numbers like the Dorival Caymmi medley, Johnny Alf's ‘Céu E Mar’ and the gorgeous ‘Cartão de Visita’, which showcase her agile and remarkably youthful vocals. Don’t expect anything groundbreaking; just revel in some classic Brazilian songs impeccably performed by a classy act.