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| Caravan Music 2003 Ronaldo Folegatti
Histórias de Beijos
Folegatti
Music
RF B003
Back in
April 2001, I reviewed here two albums by Brazilian artist Ronaldo
Folegatti:
Mazy Tales and Anjos & Estrelas (read reviews here). Taking a step
further on where Folegatti had left off in Anjos & Estrelas, Histórias de Beijos
is his latest project. The album features vocals by Patrícia Araújo in
over 73 minutes of original music -- all 13 tracks by Folegatti -- blending
Brazilian pop, reggae and Caribbean influences in a very pleasing package.
Folegatti plays all instruments and has a few special guests:
Borginhos (acordeon), Felipe Amorim (trumpet), Cléber
Zimbrão (trombone) and Rogério Barros (flute). The opening track, "Quase Pop," is a bouncy, jazzy tune with a
killer guitar accompaniment reminiscent of George Benson's style.
"Lambuzado" has great beat, too, and the lyrics mix food and love in a delicious
way. The brass solos add a nice touch to Folegatti's catchy arrangement.
The varied styles and consistent musicianship make Histórias de
Beijos another good Folegatti album worth
exploring.
ANJOS & ESTRELAS
Nice work from Ronaldo Folegatti -- a Brazilian
songwriter who reminds us a lot of some of the
late 70s work by Edu Lobo, or later recordings by
Lo Borges. Like both of them, he's got a style
that's firmly steeped in jazz-based influences --
but which is also aiming for a more sophisticated
level of vocal songwriting. There's plenty of
wonderful original compositions on this set --
quite subtle, but very compelling -- and
Folegatti handles some of the singing, along with
Patricia Araujo, Fernando Mello, and Jacqueline
Hecker. Titles include "Clarice",
"Valsa So", "Estrela
Distante", "Viver", "Falsa
Salsa Pro Joao", and "Meu Anjo".
Dusty
Groove
June 2001
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Rambles /
2003
Histórias de Beijos
On one of
my first visits to Brazil, as was my habit when traveling, I stopped in
a store that sold recordings and asked for some examples of local popular music. The salesman started me off with a touristy CD that included
sambas, but
could have been produced in any studio in the U.S. or Europe.
With my
limited language skills I still managed to communicate, "No, no, something
YOU like." Soon a more sensuous samba swayed through store speakers.
Spontaneously, clerks and customers threw their arms into the air while hips
and shoulders began rotating in time with the music. This album reminded me
of that moment and should get you dancing, too.
Guitarist/songwriter/arranger
Ronaldo Folegatti leads the session. He appeared
briefly on U.S. jazz charts in the early '90s with Sound of Watercolors.
That was jazz with a Brazilian feel. The more recent Historias De Beijos (Stories of
Kisses) is Brazilian pop with a jazz flavor. There's a hint of
Sergio Mendes when the female backup singers chime in. All the tunes were
written by Folegatti. They are in a variety of dance rhythms and consistently
good. "Paraiso Imerso (Immersed Paradise)" is a wonderful tune performed
with a gentle, sexy languor that could only be Brazilian. I asked Folegatti
what he called the arrangement. He said, "maybe a fake reggae."
Most of my
other favorites sound like updated bossa novas from the '60s and '70s.
Imagine Astrud Gilberto's version of "The Girl From Ipanema," strengthen
the voice a bit, spice up the rhythms and you'll have a feel for the sound
of lead vocalist Patricia Araujo.
In addition
to Folegatti, Araujo and backup singers we hear Brazilian percussion,
piano, various horns and an occasional romantic accordion. The mix varies
nicely from one track to the next. Songs are in Portuguese, as are the
album notes. (Pardon my translations.)
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Dusty Groove 2003
Ronaldo Folegatti -- Historias De Beijos . . . CD . . .
A
self-produced album by Ronaldo Folegatti -- an interesting talent from the Brazilian
indie scene, with a spirit that takes us back to the glory days of 70s MPB!
The work on this album has the smooth glide of some of the best late 70s
popular work -- simple and tight tunes, put together with some slight
jazzy touches, and nearly all graced by sweet female lead vocals by Patricia
Araujo. The production is very professional, occasionally with some smoother
keyboard touches that give it a more current feel -- and titles include "Longe De Voce", "Dentro De Ti",
"Lambuzado", "Quase Pop", "So Pra
Ver", "Brincadeira", and "Teze De
Maio".
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MAZY
TALES and
ANJOS & ESTRELAS
What a delight to hear these two new releases by
Ronaldo Folegatti (guitars, keyboards, vocals).
Mazy Tales, an instrumental album with a strong
jazz and Brazilian feel, opens with a taste of
the Brazilian northeast in
"Batata-Doce". The baião flavored tune
is just one side of the diverse musical universe
that Folegatti presents in this CD. He comes back
to baião in "Janaião,"
"Hermético Agosto" (can you say
Hermeto Pascoal?) and other tracks, but he does
not forget the vivacious rhythms of samba, as in
"The Doctor's Samba" and "Cumdengu
Da." Whether with a baião, samba or bolero,
as in "A Bordo de um Avião," Folegatti's music is both exquisite and
captivating. When he delves more into the jazz world, he is absolutely
brilliant. You will be
amazed at the haunting melody and Fernando di
Mello's mystic vocalese of "Fairy
Tale." While vocals in Mazy Tales are often
secondary to the magnificent instrumental work,
in Anjos & Estrelas, Folegatti explores his
lyricist side. True, it is a lighter album, but
the same musical quality of Mazy Tales is still evident. Whether with poignant lyrics or simple
poetry, Anjos & Estrelas is also very pleasing. Though clearly more popular in
scope,
the album is still effervescent in some jazzy numbers, as is the case of "Extensão,"
where Folegatti's own soothing vocals pair up
with Patricia Araújo's crisp voice in a sexy duet. Next, in "Falta de Criatividade,"
Folegatti brings Luciana Marinho in a marvelous
samba with a João Bosco touch of greatness. The
track is effusive and joyful. Together, these two
releases seem to complement each other well. You
get a double dose of Folegatti with a good blend
of vocalists and superb musicianship.
Egídio Leitão -
Caravan Music
April 2001 |
MAZY TALES
Please allow me to introduce you to a new
Brazilian guitarist whose eclectic and joyful
approach to music is well worth the time of every
jazz listener. His name is Ronaldo Folegatti, and
his CD collection is titled MAZY TALES. This
collection is a long and enjoyable journey,
always entertaining, always lively, with a total
of 16 selections.
Two standout selections on this fine CD
collection are "Chameguin," and the
lovely "Valerie," both worthy of
airplay time. Other selections include
"Batata-Doce," "Fairy Tale,"
"Mariposas," the lively "Seven
Tails for Seven Tales," "Pensando em
Voce" which features the performances of Folegatti, Borginhos on
accordion, Burkhard
Schlothauer on violin, and some sensitive vocal
performances, "Arpeggio" featuring the
clarinet talents of Cristiano Alves, vocals by
Jaqueline Hecker, and "Cumdengu Da"
among other selections. MAZY TALES is Brazilian
jazz at its most endearing and magical.
For those who enjoy Brazilian jazz, the
collection titled MAZY TALES is a sure winner,
and for those new to this type of music, it will
be a treat and highly entertaining. Ronaldo
Folegatti is a first-rate guitar player, and MAZY
TALES highlights his style and verve. Excellent
collection of songs!
Lee
Prosser - Jazzreview.com
June 2001
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