Courage＜Yellow Vinyl＞

ミルトン・ナシメントの世界デビュー・アルバム『Courage』(1969)が、YELLOW VINYL仕様で復刻。ミルトンの代名詞とも言える大名曲「Bridges(Travessia)」を収録した大名盤!

名曲「Travessia」をもってブラジル全土にその名を轟かせたミルトン・ナシメントによる世界デビューアルバム『Courage』(1969)が久々の復刻。主にブラジルでリリースされた1stアルバムに収録された楽曲を英詩で歌い、その名曲群がアメリカで知られる契機となった。ハービー・ハンコックがピアノで参加し、ストリングスアレンジはエウミール・デオダートが担当。「Bridges(Travessia)」「Catavento」「Outubro」「Morro Velho」などの1stにも収録された初期名曲群が素晴らしいのはもちろんだが、注目すべきは1st未収録の「Vera Cruz」を収録している点。後の「クルビ・ダ・エスキーナ」への拡がりの序章となるMPB黎明期の超重要作だ。

Milton Nascimento's first album for North American ears, recorded at Van Gelder Studios in New Jersey under the watchful eye and discerning ear of Creed Taylor, is a masterpiece, a gorgeously executed tour through his early songs. Backed beautifully by Eumir Deodato's lush orchestrations and a clutch of sidemen from the Taylor stable (including Herbie Hancock, Airto Moreira, and Hubert Laws), Nascimento unveils one first-class tune after another, many of which would ignite a rush of cover versions. Among the songs North Americans heard for the first time were "Vera Cruz," "Tres Pontas," "Morro Velho," the scatted "Catavento," and the intensely moving "Bridges" ("Travessia")" -- the latter which launched Nascimento's name on the world music scene. Singing in English, Portuguese, and often with no words at all, Nascimento's odd yet masculine and expressive baritone stands out like a moaning foghorn from the smooth A&M/Taylor sonic formula, a haunting combination. This was Nascimento before tropicalismo, when he latched onto the tail end of the bossa nova movement and quickly became one of its most inspired performers and songwriters. To some admirers, Courage remains his best record, period. ~ Richard S. Ginell