The poet/performer
Vinicius de Moraes and the vocalist
Odette Lara make a wonderful team, and though their voices aren't heard together as much as they should be here,
Vinicius & Odette Lara is a warm, inviting collection. The dozen songs are all originals -- by
de Moraes and old friend
Baden Powell, who also appears as a musician -- and usually present
Lara and
de Moraes trading lines, or
Lara taking the verses while
de Moraes handles choruses. The breathtaking "Samba Preludio" is one of the few actual duets; after a preface featuring a mournful
de Moraes over a sawing cello,
Lara sings a few lines alone as well before the pair's voices intertwine (even while they sing different lines).
Moacyr Santos' arrangements range from Brazilian bossa to string orchestra pop to anthemic soul-jazz, with plenty of trumpet and flute as well as a warm cocktail piano and the usual sewing machine bossa percussion. On "Deve se Amor," playful reeds and high-note trumpet accent a smooth, powerful vocal by
Lara. It's a bit disconcerting to hear a Brazilian vocal album without recognizing at least one standard, but
Vinicius & Odette Lara is a challenging, entertaining work of jazzy Brazilian pop.