Sons Do Brasil: Dindinha

The opening album of a new sensitive singer, Ceumar. Avoiding easy shortcuts to success, Ceumar left out all electronic devices and such trends, preferring to invest in sensitive interpretations with her limpid voice for old composers' classics (the samba "Maldito Costume" by Sinhô, 1929; the instigating recreation for Luiz Gonzaga's "Olha Pro Céu," in marcha-rancho rhythm, where all backing she had is her own voice in overdubs) and "new" composers' (that is, from professionals with 20 years of career) songs, like "Dindinha," "Cantiga," "Boi de Haxixe," "Pecadilhos" by the producer Zeca Baleiro, "Banzo" by Itamar Assumpção, "Galope Rasante" (Zé Ramalho), and "Geofrey, A Lenda Do Ginete" (Chico César). A delicious album, delicate and inspired, interpreted with authoritative musicality. The only unfulfilled promise is "Let It Grow," which loses in the comparison with the previous recording by Renaissance's Annie Haslam and her three-octave range. ~ Alvaro Neder|