Organized as a moving tribute to singer
Elisinha Coelho,
Carmina Juarez's second solo effort,
Tenho Saudade, succeeds in re-creating her biggest hits (old songs by
Ary Barroso, J. Thomaz, J. Aymberê, and others) with the support of excellent musicians (André Mehmari,
Célio Barros, Rui Carvalho, Jardel Caetano,
Camilo Carrara, and Renato Martins) and arrangements for
Juarez's delightful voice, surpassing the requisites of a mere homage in an inventive and original elaboration of the original material.
Juarez has a meticulous concern for vocal pitching, but her articulation and phrasing are fortunately and decidedly popular, which is fundamental in stressing the beauty of the Brazilian Portuguese language. The work is punctuated by an oneiric/melancholic/ethereal atmosphere (intermittently suggested throughout the album as a leitmotiv) that dialogues with a down-to-earth, rhythmical samba approach confronted with
Juarez's different voice treatments, ranging from the rustic to the virtuosic. Everything is carefully stylized through an instrumental treatment that never transcribes any genres literally, making use of jazz and avant-garde classical music to suggest ever-changing moods with subtlety and a tasteful sense of balance. A very good attempt at carrying the torch of tradition while looking ahead.