Best Of Banda Black Rio, The

This is a compilation of songs from the band's three albums Maria Fumaca (from 1977), Gafieria Universal (1979), and Saci Perere (1980). The selection is quite good, and gives some excellent examples of the group's typical fusion of soul, funk, and samba. As always, the saxophone play of band leader Oberdan, and indeed the instrumental arrangements as a whole, are exquisite. Most of the tracks on this collection are instrumental (as indeed were most of the songs that Banda Black Rio recorded), but there are also a few vocal tracks included, as for example the fine "Vidigal." Among the highlights of the group's own compositions are the cool and funky"Mr. Funk Samba" and "Casa Forte," with its keyboard and brass driven melody. Banda Black Rio are also famous for their instrumental interpretations of other artists' compositions. Included here is a version of Milton Nascimento's and Lo Borges' famous song "Cravo e Canela." ~ Philip Jandovsky