Various Artists - A Love Affair: The Music Of Ivan Lins (2000)

BRAZIL WEEK (FEBRUARY 4-10, 2013)

With the possible exception of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ivan Lins is probably the most well-known Brazilian musician/composer to American audiences. In Brazil, his music is categorized as Música Popular Brasileira (MPB), but his use of jazz chord progressions and voicings have made his music appealing to many US jazz artists. However, categorizing Lins' songs do them an injustice; they should be individually taken on their own merits. This all-star line up of musicians is one of many collaborations Lins has made with American artists in an attempt to get Lins a wider audience here in the States. I think it may be a little late for that and that's a shame because this is a great album. We're treated to 11 tracks of Lins' songs: 2 instrumentals, 8 with English lyrics, and a final track sung in Portuguese by Lins himself. Excellent liner notes including the story of how this compilation came together written by keyboardist/arranger/producer Jason Miles.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart.

Tracks:

1. She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa) - Sting
2. Love Dance - Vanessa Williams
3. Camaleao - Grover Washington, Jr.
4. Answered Prayers (E De Deus) - New York Voices
5. So Crazy For This Love (Cru-Cre Corroro) - Chaka Khan
6. You Moved Me To This - Lisa Fischer & James "D Train" Williams
7. Nocturne (Noturna) - Brenda Russell
8. Elis (Leva E Traz) - Peter White
9. I'm Not Alone (Anjo De Mim) - Freddy Cole
10. Sweet Presence (Doce Precensa) - Dianne Reeves
11. Somos Todos Iquais Nesta Noite - Ivan Lins

I like them all; this disc is strong from start to finish. Today, my favorites include Lin's most popular song, Love Dance, performed by Vanessa Williams, You Moved Me To This sung by Lisa Fischer and James "D Train" Williams, and Lins singing his Somos Todos Iquais Nesta Noite. The weakest track is I'm Not Alone (Anjo De Mim) not because it is a bad song or because Freddy Cole is a bad singer because neither of those assertions is true. His voice simply isn't suited to the song; it's a bad pairing.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I was listening to a smooth jazz radio station out of Houston when I heard Sting singing She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa). I thought it was the best Sting song I'd heard in 10 years, so I searched out this disc. After I purchased the CD in 2003, it was my constant office companion for about a year.