Saga is the auspicious double-disc jazz debut from virtuoso Brazilian guitarist, composer, and arranger
Rodrigo Lima. His musical heritage extends from
Laurindo Almeida,
Baden Powell, and
Luiz Bonfa to
Jim Hall,
Pat Martino, and
Pat Metheny. Gorgeously produced by
Arnaldo DeSouteiro and recorded in Brazil, New York, and Los Angeles, the set features a killer studio band -- keyboardist
Hugo Fattoruso and trombonist
Raul De Souza, bassist
Jamil Joanes and drummer
Ze Eduardo Nazario -- appended by an international all-star cast:
Hermeto Pascoal,
Hubert Laws,
Anat Cohen,
Mike Mainieri,
Ithamara Koorax, Frank Herzberg,
Sammy Figueroa, Aline Morena, and
Don Sebesky, for starters. The production aesthetic is informed by
Creed Taylor's iconic CTI label, whose pristine sonic and advanced musical blueprint employed a large stable of musicians and arrangers (some of whom appear here) and melded genres so seamlessly and attractively, it made jazz accessible to almost any listener.
Lima and
DeSouteiro use CTI as a guiding principle: charts, solos and ensemble play are colorful and imaginative, played tight and right.
Lima's tunes employ Latin grooves and Brazilian sounds and rhythms as they integrate seamlessly with funk, pop and even classical crossover in elegant, sophisticated arrangments that extend the reach of jazz itself.
Lima's innovative playing is rivaled only by his wide-angle compositional and arranging skills. "Cancao Praieira," a jazz samba, finds
Lima's classical guitar hovering above
Fattoruso's Fender Rhodes; both complement a rich, emotive solo from
De Souza. "Novos Cariocas - Anat's Song" is a smoking jazz choro-cum-samba with the dedicatee as guest soloist. "A La Vuelta" is inspired by Andean folk tradition.
Lima plays charango, acoustic, and electric guitars, and
Fattoruso is on accordion and piano. "Brasileirao" is where baiao meets bop. Fleet single-string guitar playing drives solos from electric and arco basses;
Fattoruso kills it on harpsichord.
Sebesky arranged "Flying Waltz," and
Laws delivers a poignant flute solo.
Lima's classical guitar and
Fattoruso's Rhodes are framed by upright bass and chamber strings.
Sebesky's lush chart employs colorful harmonics and textures subtly yet provocatively -- more evidence that he is one of jazz's greatest arrangers. Things get funky on "OPA," which is all groove all the time, while "Anima 2" weds knotty electric fusion to Yoruban percussion.
Pascoal's "Palhina Do Vinho" begins as an airy vocal samba but moves through funk and fusion -- and he contributes a blazing melodica solo. Disc two contains some intimate tunes: a solo guitar piece, "A Velha Sozinha," duets with
Fattoruso ("Tango") and
Pascoal ("Nosso Borogodo Coio"), and an excellent vocal showcase in "Samba Da Mistura." Its highlight is "Brahms," a 20-minute jam based on the composer's third symphony (CTI was also known to funk up the classical canon a bit).
Lima's playing is jaw-dropping in phrasing, fluidity, and eloquence; he breezes through postbop, flamenco, and classical. Solos by
Fattoruso,
De Souza, and
Maineri make it a contemporary jazz classic.
Lima's taste and maestro-like abilities, combined with
DeSouteiro's veteran experience, puts
Saga in a class by itself. This is an expansive yet utterly welcoming offering that sounds more adventurous with repeated listening. It is holistic in conception and visionary in articulation. ~ Thom Jurek