This compilation brings some of Baden Powell's biggest instrumental hits, like "Canto de Ossanha" (from the Afro-sambas phase, fruit of his research of genuine Afro folklore in Bahia), "Berimbau," "Tempo Feliz," the unusual melodic solutions in "O Astronauta," and "Samba triste." Sometimes backed by a rhythm section (non-credited in the poor inlay), sometimes alone at the violão, he also pays tribute to Pixinguinha (through his classics "Lamento" and "Carinhoso"), Tom Jobim ("Garota de Ipanema"), Vinícius de Moraes ("Eurídice"), and Sílvio Caldas (in the romantic seresta classic "Chão de Estrelas"). This constitutes a good introduction to the master's instrumental work and improvisations. It is less interesting than the Millennium series (which was devised to neutralize this one), which brings all the songs included here minus two ("Deve Ser Amor" and "Tempo Feliz"), plus "Samba Do Avião," "A lenda Do Abaeté," "Consolação," "Samba de Uma Nota Só," "...Das rosas," "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro," "Viagem," and "Saudades da Bahia."
© Alvaro Neder /TiVo