Claudio Roditi takes a Brazilian-flavored look at a number of standards and familiar jazz compositions on these delightful sessions from 1992, with pianist
Mark Soskin, bassist
David Finck, and drummer
Ignacio Berroa in his core group and various guests interspersed throughout the CD. The trumpeter's tone and phrasing are at a peak throughout the disc, and he switches to flügelhorn for a peppy rendition of "Without a Song." The upbeat samba treatment of "Speak Low" and bossa nova chart of "Come Rain or Come Shine" feature tenor saxophonist
Andres Boiarsky, while the promising young tenor player
David Sanchez is on hand for the midtempo arrangement of "Giant Steps" and gospel-infused "Moanin'." Guitarist
Ed Cherry is added for the engaging uptempo samba interpretation of "Donna Lee," while harmonica player
Hendrik Meurkens shines in
Roditi's "Moody's Samba." Unfortunately, this rewarding CD has been allowed to lapse from print, so it is getting difficult to acquire.