Yo-Yo Ma
Obrigado Brazil, Live in Concert
Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet; Sergio Assad & Odair Assad, guitars; Rosa Passos, guitar & vocal; Kathryn Stott, piano; Cyro Baptista, percussion; Nilson Matta, bass.
Nominated for four Grammy's, including best classical crossover album, this outstanding music is vivid, highly innovative, brightly colorful, and a great stirrer of the senses. Yo-Yo Ma is a classically trained cello player; his playing is from the heart, with a sense of passion and feeling that binds the excellent performances of all the others. There are tangos from Argentina by Astor Piazolla, original music from clarinetist and composer Paquito D'Rivera, and new Brazilian selections by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Paquito D'Rivera takes center stage with some liquid clarinet playing for his own piece, "Wapango"; Jaco de Bandolim's "Doce de coco", performed by Ma, D'Rivera and the Assads on guitars is a wonderfully gentle and melodic caress. This pan-Latin sound is totally engaging, the talents of these musicians blending superbly to give a richness and quality of sound that is irresistible; it is no wonder that this was the fastest selling of all of Ma's recordings. This is a must CD.
Ferdinand Maylin