Tropical Postcards isn't the first time that
Roseanna Vitro has embraced Brazilian jazz; over the years, the expressive vocalist has recorded some Brazilian songs here and there. However,
Tropical Postcards is the first time that Brazilian jazz has seriously dominated one of her albums, and it is also among her best, most inspired and memorable projects.
Vitro doesn't embrace Brazilian jazz exclusively on
Tropical Postcards; she gets away from the album's Brazilian theme on
McCoy Tyner's "In Search of My Heart" (which favors more of a modal/Indian/Middle Eastern ambience) and
Johnny Mercer's "I Remember You." Nonetheless, Brazilian jazz is the album's primary direction, and that theme serves
Vitro impressively well whether she is tackling
Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave" and two
Milton Nascimento songs ("Cravo e Canela" and "Certas Cancoes") or providing a bossa nova interpretation of the standard "I'll Be Seeing You." Thankfully,
Tropical Postcards doesn't have an all-standards-all-the-time policy;
Vitro, much to her credit, isn't afraid to offer some surprises when it comes to selecting material. "Wave," "I'll Be Seeing You" and "I Remember You" have been recorded countless times, but
Vitro -- true to form -- also surprises us with some gems that jazz vocalists haven't paid nearly as much attention to, including
Tom Harrell's "Terrestris" and
Ivan Lins' "I Just Need Your Kisses." Clearly,
Vitro is smart enough to realize that a song doesn't have to be a Tin Pan Alley warhorse to have value, and she knows how important it is for a jazz vocalist to put his/her stamp on some lesser known pearls.
Tropical Postcards is an excellent addition to
Vitro's catalog. ~ Alex Henderson