New Music Monday

By Bob Stewart

New Music Monday - 8/12/2013

Paquito's Brazilian Affair; Gadd's Gadditude.

There are many artists who have developed a love affair with Brazil and its culture. The music of Brazil has been particularly intoxicating for musicians who appreciate well-written melodies and a strong rhythmic drive. The heralded Cuban-born clarinetist/saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera has never been shy to trumpet his Brazilian infatuation. Since his arrival in the United States, he's made a point to collaborate with Brazilian musicians of all stripes, including figures in Brazilian jazz, folkloric and popular music. On his latest disc, "Song for Maura", he's accompanied by a fabulous contemporary jazz trio from Sao Paulo, Trio Corrente.

For "Gadditude", his tenth outing as a leader, world class drummer Steve Gadd got a little help from his distinguished friends-guitarist Michael Landau, keyboardist Larry Goldings, trumpeter Walt Fowler and bassist Jimmy Johnson. Together they had already established a high degree of bandstand chemistry as the touring ensemble for singer-songwriter James Taylor. That goes a long way in explaining the sense of comfort and ease from track to track on this relaxed session. Together they put their own unique stamp on a pair of Keith Jarrett pieces, compositions by Radiohead and Abdullah Ibrahim, along with evocative originals by Landau and Goldings.