For the most part, this album feeds Ritenour's love for Brazilian music and acoustic guitar (see also the earlier Ritenour albums Rio, Harlequin, & Festival. I haven't yet checked out his latest release, simply titled Brasil). However, there's a few cuts that, while good for what they are, seem somewhat out of place on a Brazilian album. Familiar names in the credits include Ernie Watts, Paulinho Da Costa, Russell Ferrante, Jerry Hey, and Phil Perry. Over at Allmusic, Richard S. Ginell writes "this CD represents a slight dip for Ritenour at a stage in his career when his albums were gradually becoming classier and more musical" and while that's true, there's still some good smooth jazz to be had here.
Ratings:
- The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
- The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard 200: Did not chart
- Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #4
- Billboard R&B: #62
- CashBox Contemporary Jazz: #7
Tracks: 7 Ritenour originals, 1 each from Brazilian musicians Ivan Lins and Gonzaguinha, plus a cover of an Isley Brothers tune. Vocals on four of the tracks. The good tracks that don't really fit the theme are Mister Reggae, I Can't Let Go, and Malibu (a remake of a track from Rit/2). My favorites are Bahia Funk, the title track, Tropical Storm, and Etude.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.
Previously revisited for the blog:
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