"
Fantasia" aptly describes this exuberant debut by drummer/percussionist
Duduka Da Fonseca. Many tracks feature him with his partners in
Trio da Paz (guitarist
Romero Lubambo, bassist
Nilson Matta), but there's also a rotating cast of jazz heavyweights: guitarist
John Scofield, trumpeters
Tom Harrell and
Claudio Roditi, saxophonists
Joe Lovano,
David Sanchez, and
Billy Drewes, pianists
Kenny Werner and
Marc Copland, and more. The results are upbeat, melodic, and richly textured, with ample and inspired improvisations -- the above names virtually guarantee it.
Da Fonseca includes three of his own compositions: the odd-metered "Partido Out," the
Tyner-esque "Dona Maria" (a tour de force for
Kenny Werner and
Billy Drewes), and the bright finale, "Manhattan Style." There are also original entries by
Scofield,
Harrell,
Lubambo, and
Helio Alves, along with gems by
Dori Caymmi,
Jobim, and others. The blend of electric and acoustic guitars (courtesy of
Scofield and
Lubambo) on "Pro Flavio" is one of the album's many winning moments;
Da Fonseca sets up the track with a two-minute "Berimbau Fantasia." Albums like these raise the creative bar for Brazilian jazz, bringing the form squarely into the new millennium. ~ David R. Adler