Tropical Man

ヴィンテージ・ソウルと、ブラジリアン・ミュージックのハイブリッドな心躍る1枚。

ギタリスト"THOMAS BRENNECK"を中心に、"DAP-KINGS"、"BUDOS BAND"、"ANTIBALAS"、"EL MICHELS AFFAIR"のメンバーで構成されるスーパー・バンドMENAHAN STREET BANDが、セウ・ジョルジ、ガブリエル・モウラらと並び、サンバ・シーンの看板で、ここ15年リオデジャネイロで最もエキサイティングなシンガー・ソングライターの一人"ROGE"をヴォーカルに迎えて贈る、この夏もっとも熱い12インチがリリース!

70年代初期の未発掘ソフト・サイケ・サンバ・ソウルかと見紛ってしまうほど、最高のレアグルーヴ感。ブラジリアンを感じるヴォーカルとコーラスワーク、キレキレのフェイザーが効いたファンクなドラミング、語尾がリットするホーンフレーズが素晴らしい「Tropical Man」は3ヴァージョン入っていて、どのヴァージョンも素晴らしく、あえてキレキレのドラムを抜いた(No Drums Version)なんかは、横ノリになり新しくも心地よい。"ROGE"の子どもたちへ贈る、ミッドテンポでシンプルな、間を感じるサンバ・ソウル「Mis Filos」も2ヴァージョン収録。

The last outing by the hard-grooving, horn-saturated jazzy funksters Menahan Street Band was 2021s The Exciting Sounds of the Menahan Street Band. The Tropical Man EP is a collaboration with sophisticated modern MPB/samba master Roge. The recording is composed of the double A-side "Tropical Man"/"Mis Filos" and includes several mixes of each. Roge is a Rio-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter; part of a new generation of MPB artists, his shapeshifting approach to samba moves effortlessly between it, bossa nova, funk, and reggae, seemingly organically. Since releasing 2014s star-studded Baile Do Brenguele, Roge has presented Brazilian roots music that readily acknowledges its connection to Africa as well as a funky, souled-out approach to MPB, illustrated so wonderfully on 2020s Night Dreamer in collaboration with Seu Jorge and 2023s globally acclaimed Curyman, arranged by Brazilian music legend Arthur Verocai and produced by Menahans own Thomas Brenneck. It was the first release to appear on Brennecks and Jared Tankels Diamond West label. Despite being recorded in the studio, Tropical Man strongly reflects Roges integration of Afro-Brazilian polyrhythms with samba, bossa, funk, and afoxe with jongo and maculele. "Tropical Man" commences with a wordless vocal chorus that sounds like an outtake from Stevie Wonders "Ma Cherie Amour." Tight, skittering horns, wrangling bass, and a drumkit come to the fore. While its rhythmic character certainly belongs to samba, its backing vocalists sound like they were trained at Philly International as they interact with Roges smooth baritone. Brennecks guitar and electric piano add a jazzy element -- a la George Duke -- as the tune straddles samba, MPB, modern soul, and electric jazz. In the bridge, the horns drop out and the rhythm section, keys, and guitars are treated to dubwise production. There are three additional mixes of the track: The "club mix" towers over the rest because of the serious reverb applied to lead and chorus vocals in a syncopated approach that touches on Afrobeat and P-Funk. The band is led by Nick Movshons canny, bumping bassline offering a Victor Bailey-esque jazz-funk angle. The drumless mix simply doesnt work, and the TV mix is essentially a dub track sans lead vocals. "Mis Filos," its companion here, is arguably a stronger track. Introduced by a horn vamp and silvery guitars, Roge enters atop a slow, elegantly articulated samba that hovers between bossa and R&B. Mellotron, guitars, and electric pianos frame the singer and his chorus and articulate the soulful, jazzy character. Its dub-centric "TV mix" fares better than its predecessor as the bands playing offers much more variation, color, and texture. For MSB fans, the Tropical Man EP offers more sonic and stylistic dimensions to a sound that alternately echoes the past while projecting into the future. More than this, however, is its presentation of Roges talents as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist to a brand-new audience. ~ Thom Jurek