March 3rd, 2008
Review from a Listener
Every week on “No Cover, No Minimum,” I give away tickets to concerts. Usually these are for shows at Yoshi’s (either in Oakland or SF), and often for great artists. And you know what? Hardly anybody calls. I don’t know if people don’t think they can win, don’t know what they’re missing or just aren’t awake yet, but I’m usually lucky to get one or two calls for a ticket giveaway. It’s a shame, really.
Anyway, one loyal listener who did call a couple of shows ago got to go see Claudia Villela at Yoshi’s Oakland, free of charge, and he had such a good time that he emailed the following review, which I’d like to share…
I went to see Claudia Villela at Yoshi’s last night; a Brazilian Jazz Diva in the most understated of terms. She was backed by the Iago Weber trio. What a show!
The live recording date was complete with ballads, heavy fusion, musical poetry, and that esoteric component that is one truly defining characteristic of Brazilian music - the sounds of nature. Last evening’s venture included the tribute Claudia and pianist Weber Iago collaborated on ten years ago, in honor of the passing of Brazilian jazz legend Antonio Carlos Jobim. There were other equally inspiring moments throughout the set. The intertwining of Claudia’s haunting free-form vocal passages with the soprano saxophone created a hybrid fusion of sounds in which neither voice was distinct, but a unique instrument unto itself. Bass guru Gary Brown laid down some fine classic grooves and did a few blistering solos that would humble even the giants. Drummer extraordinaire Celso Alberti rounded out this powerhouse rhythm section.
One of the musical objectives of this genre is to animate the soundscape of the Rain Forest and jungles of the Amazon basin. So there is vocal and percussive emulation of birds chirping, monkeys cackling and other fauna rustling in the canopy; as well as water and wind inspired components present in the tone palette. When you are fortunate enough to have a master musical sherpa like Claudia guiding you along the sonic venture into this space, a multi-dimensional, colorful transformation from jazz to nature takes place. The metamorphosis becomes total, all encompassing and blissful. All you need to do is close your eyes and you are shuttled to a far away and exotic place complete with a new dimension of sound, rhythm, light, space, and time. Not to worry, when the sojourn to the rain forest comes to an end, Claudia reels you back in to reality with a subtle and ever tasteful reversal of musical polarity.
This outing is one that I will cherish for years to come. I hope you make time to experience her music.
Pretty nifty, huh?
Next time you’re listening to the show and I give away a pair of tickets, do yourself a favor and call me. KZSU’s studio line is (650) 723-9010.
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