Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin: 'Brasil'

Just as sunshine pop offered a counterweight to psychedelic hard rock in the late 1960s, soft jazz evolved in the 1970s as a lighter FM alternative to the mystical psychedelic jazz fusion movement. Two artists who helped pioneer soft jazz were guitarist Lee Ritenour and keyboardist Dave Grusin. Mind you, these categories weren't exclusive. There was plenty of crossover by musicians between the two genres. [Photo above of Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin]

Now Ritenour and Grusin have teamed up on the newly released Brasil (Candid). Recorded in São Paulo, Brazil, Brasil turns to the bossa nova, gentle samba and a range of other rhythms for a hushed jazzy spin. The album features bassist Bruno Migotto, drummer Edu Ribeiro and percussionist Marcelo Costa. Added to the rhythm section are guitarist Chico Pinheiro on two tracks; composer, singer and guitarist Celso Fonseca on his composition “Meu Samba Torto” and vocalist Tatiana Parra. Other special guests include vocalist-composer Ivan Lins, harmonica player Grégoire Maret and guitarist Chico Pinheiro. 

What I love about this album is that Ritenour's and Grusin's distinctive instrumental voices remained intact. Listening to the album, you know it's them, this time in a Brazilian setting, which allowed them to add young local musicians who have the authentic Brazilian flavor. The relocation clearly was a great move, considering how surfy the music sounds. Perfect timing given the high temperatures across the country of late and thoughts turning to the beach.

I also love the album's quiet demeanor. Overall, it has the sound of calm water washing up on the sand at night and then receding. The vocals are similarly serene.

The tracks:

1. Cravo E Canela (Cloves And Cinnamon) (Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos), featuring Tatiana Parra and Grégoire Maret
2. For the Palms (Lee Ritenour), featuring Grégoire Maret
3. Catavento (Nascimento)
   
4. Vitoriosa (Victorious) (Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins), featuring Ivan Lins and Tatiana Parra
5. Meu Samba Torto (My Crooked Samba) (Celso Fonseca), featuring Celso Fonseca
6. Stone Flower (Antonio Carlos Jobim), featuring Chico Pinheiro
7. Boca De Siri (Keep A Secret) (Chico Pinheiro, Paulo Cesar Pinheiro), featuring Chico Pinheiro
8. Lil Rock Way (Ritenour), featuring Grégoire Maret
9. Canto Invierno (Winter Song) (Dave Grusin)

JazzWax tracks: You'll find Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin's Brasil (Candid) here.

JazzWax clips: Here's Stone Flower...

And here's Cravo E Canela (Cloves & Cinnamon)...