Alma Serena

After "Bolero" (1993) (dedicated to that genre) and "A Noite Do Meu Bem" (1994) (to compositions by Dolores Duran), this release by Nana Caymmi has nine songs that are recorded here for the first time. A surprise is the re-recording of "Clube Da Esquina," with the distinctive guitar of Toninho Horta -- who also is the composer (with Flora Purim) of "Anjo Do Amor," where he also sings, conferring the typical Clube Da Esquina atmosphere to the album, which is unusual in Caymmi's releases. That atmosphere continues in "A Noite É Meu Ópio" (with lyrics by Clube Da Esquina member Ronaldo Bastos). Another mineiro (from Minas Gerais) composer on the album is Cláudio Nucci, who sings "Eu Quero Estar Com Você." "Primavera," by the soul patriarch Cassiano, recorded also by Tim Maia (1970), got a beautiful and delicate MPB rendition. Changing the pace, she sings mild sambas, "Coração Sem Saída" (Dori Caymmi/Paulo César Pinheiro) and "Novo Amor" (Chico Buarque), but the album reaches its apex with the last song, "Flecha de Prata." Written by her brother Danilo, sung together with her daughter Marina in a tribute to her mother Stella, it would be only a nepotistic act if it weren't for the inspired rendition and beautiful arrangement, based in percussion and flutes, which bears a strange, primitive quality. An album in which Nana keeps her romantic, nostalgic style, but infuses new life through the inclusion of unimagined resources. ~ Alvaro Neder|