Brazilian jazz is not a genre that commonly crosses my desk, but over the years I have heard a fair amount of music that is originated there or inspired by the rhythms of Rio and the favellas. Based on that, I put this CD on my deck expecting the usual lazy and bland hip shaking samba but what I got was a young lady with an enchanting voice, music that is vibrant and sexy and a reinvigorated taste for Latin jazz. Baiana (Laura Doyle) was born and brought up in Liverpool but fell in love with Brazilian music after living there for some time as ‘First Lady’ with the Italian Diplomatic Service. She is also a well-respected figure in International Women’s Football (from Liverpool – who would have guessed) and speaks (and sings) five languages.
To a large extent, this could have been recorded in the ‘50’s or ‘60’s but it isn’t dated in any way. Rather the roots of the music stand proud and her lyrics bring the songs into the 21st century. I can hear the greats such as Peggy Lee and Elis Regina rooted in her vocals but she brings a certain breathy lightness that brings the music real purpose.
The music is outstanding. Snowboy is internationally recognized as a jazz producer and he has brought all his talents to the party with wonderful rhythms, strings (arranged by Steve Parry) all creating a huge and explosive panorama of horn (The Haggis Horns no less) and timbales and whistles against Baiana’s vocal.
The variety of pace and rhythms works well and Baiana has a remarkable depth of talent on show with her vocals varying from the impassioned to the flirty.
Not the album I expected from a young lady by the name of Laura Doyle but one that livened up a muggy Sunday afternoon and promises to be on my playlist for a while.
