Livio Almeida pays homage to his rich Brazilian roots with the Bossa-Nova beauty of the “Brasília Sessions.” The saxophone on the tracks has an expressiveness, with the vocalizations reminiscent of the silky-smooth demeanor of Stan Getz. Jazz has been experiencing a general resurgence, bringing more pop and avant-garde elements into the fray. Throughout these sessions, Livio incorporates the small yet significant details, the melodic structures, and elements of funk in all the right places. The result is something forward-thinking while retaining a warm, approachable ethos.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1fa6N7Vn3nyqPPnO0udA5N
“Sambasus” starts the sound swinging, with the loose rhythms and gentle coolness gradually coming into focus, giving the track a stately grandeur, from the upright bass to the glimmering keyboards. The limber moves of “Partido Cerrado” are much more tactile, where he incorporates more tension. Melodies waft through the gracious glides of “Brasilia Afro Samba.” The highlight, “Folha Secas,” has a cinematic flair, with the group’s interplay embracing an easy-going demeanor. “Rocks in My Path (Pedras No Caminho)” has an ebb and flow to the action that lends the song a living, breathing aspect. An urban flair devoted to a beautiful NYC train stop is the driving “Ditmas Avenue.” Bass’s work has a tightness with the sprawling ambition of “Um Girassol Da Cor Do Sau Cabelo (A Sunflower the color of your Hair).” Layer upon layer gets applied with sophistication on the flawless sway of the finale, “Train Samba (Sambete De Trem Q),” which takes less time than the average wait for the Q Train.
“Brasília Sessions” presents a playful style, as Livio Almeida experiments with tradition while continuing to show it tremendous respect.
http://www.zohomusic.com/cds/almedia_brasiliasessions.html
https://www.selmer.fr/en/blogs/artistes/livio-almeida
https://www.facebook.com/livioalmeida/