Various Artists - Cafe Brasil (CD)

All Music Guide

Don't be fooled by the lame, cliché title of this record; the veteran band Época de Ouro has pulled off a really great album. The bandmembers -- Dino 7 Cordas, César Faria, Ronaldo do Bandolim, Jorge Filho, Toni, and Jorginho -- are a very skilled bunch of musicians in their own right, and on this album they are assisted by some of Brazil's most famous and talented artists, such as, for example, Marisa Monte, Paulinho da Viola, Martinho da Vila, and Leila Pinheiro. And it doesn't matter with whom they collaborate, Época de Ouro stays true to the traditions of the choro music, emphasizing the beautiful melodies of the songs and backing them with the traditional instruments of the genre. All tracks on the album are strong, but some deserve extra mentioning, such as Marisa Monte's beautiful and surprising version of Caetano Veloso's "Onde Andarás" from 1968, Martinho da Vila's new version of his own choro classic "Choro Chorão," and Leila Pinheiro's fine rendition of the elegant "Jamais."... "1 x 0" is an upbeat choro tune with a nice flute playing the leading role, and Sivuca contributes with his own special brand of accordion playing on "Noites Cariocas." - Philip Jandovský, All Music Guide Read more Less