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arthur verocai Long before the term world music was coined Brazilian artists such as vocalists Milton Nascimento, Flora Purim and husband and percussionist extraordinaire Airto Moreira were making international waves in the burgeoning jazz-rock experiments of the 70’s. 1972 was early days when producer, arranger and guitarist Arthur Verocai recorded his eponymously titled debut more for a bit of personal fun than anything else when Brazil was languishing under the iron fist of military dictatorship. With a free hand to use his musicians of choice, he employed some of the leading musicians of the day including saxophonist Paulo Moura, guitarist Toninho Horta and people like Robertinho Silva from Airto’s band, Oberdan Magalhaes (Banda Black Rio) and Nivaldo Ornelas (Milton Nascimento) among others.
On one level simply a selection of beautiful songs, on another a variegated landscape that lushly swirls or is sparse or world-weary or funky. It could be the greatest soundtrack to a movie you have never seen. Initially the sound quality might seem a bit lo-fi due to the modern obsession of making the obvious bleed into your ear-drums. That too is an illusion. The recording is crystal clear with every nuance captured in its place. The apparent sparseness actually works with the music as becomes abundantly clear on the closing number Karina, a jazzy free for all with dry guitar, squalling sax and blustering trombone who take turns at peeling the paint off the walls. RJ
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